"He touched my body and kissed me."
A Dubai court heard that a 25-year-old Pakistani taxi driver allegedly sexually assaulted a female passenger who fell asleep inside his cab.
She woke up to find the man had stopped his vehicle in order to kiss her while touching her body.
The 31-year-old British woman said she was assaulted by the driver as he drove her home following a night out in November 2019.
The woman told the court that she got into the taxi at 11:35 pm and asked the unnamed defendant to take her to her home in the Silicon Oasis area of the city.
She explained: “It was 11:35 pm when I got in the taxi and sat in the back seat.”
The victim then fell asleep. She woke up to see that the driver had parked in a secluded area near her house full of buildings that were under construction.
She said: “I was sleeping when he parked his car in an empty area near my residence with no one else around. He touched my body and kissed me.
“I was shocked and pushed him away, asking him to stop.”
The woman said she screamed. At that point, the driver returned to his seat and drove her the rest of the way home.
The Pakistani taxi driver drove her to her home and told her that he knew she had consumed alcohol. According to the victim, he said that he could have reported her “but rather wanted to please me.”
After dropping her off, the woman took the vehicle’s license plate number and called the police. The man was later arrested.
The woman added: “I took the plate number after he dropped me off and informed police.”
It was reported that the driver admitted taking the woman home and telling her that he was aware that she had been drinking alcohol.
An officer from Al Rashidiya Police Station told the court:
“He alleged that she flirted with him and touched his cheeks while he was driving before she was napping.”
“He was excited and parked the vehicle in an empty area and disconnected the cable of the vehicle’s camera before trying to kiss her.”
Dubai Public Prosecution charged the defendant with sexually abusing the victim. It was reported that he agreed to the charge.
A verdict is expected on January 13, 2020. Until then, the taxi driver will remain in police custody.
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