Dubai: A taxi driver was accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger in his cab, the Criminal Court heard on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old Afghan suspect R.A. was said to have taken advantage of the fact that the American was alone and was not familiar with the roads in Dubai. The plaintiff Sh.B. had hired the taxi at around midnight and asked to be taken to her friend who was waiting for her on Al Raqqa street. She said she was instead taken to a deserted area where the taxi driver assaulted her.
The suspect pleaded not guilty and denied all the charges brought against in court yesterday.
According to Public Prosecution records, the defendant stopped his car in a deserted area and left his seat in an attempt to force his way into the rear passenger seat, whereupon SH.B. tried locking the door, but her attempts proved futile. R.A. then opened the door and jumped over Sh.B. and began behaving indecently with her. When Sh.B. started resisting R.A’s advances and fighting back, he beat her repeatedly.
SH.B. managed to get out of the car and started screaming for help, but there seemed to be noone within earshot. R.A. then pushed the woman back into the car telling her he would drop her at the place she wanted. He then continued harassing her as he drove her back by touching her indecently from the driver’s seat and beating her every time she pushed him away.
The suspect was arrested soon after the woman filed a complaint.
The next hearing in the case will take place on October 13.
