A luxury transport driver in Dubai has been sentenced to one year in prison followed by deportation after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a female passenger. The Dubai Criminal Court convicted the driver, a Pakistani national, following an investigation into an incident that occurred in April last year. The case involved a Polish woman who booked a ride home from a five-star hotel in Business Bay but was instead taken to an isolated location where the assault took place.
Incident Details
According to court records, the woman, whose age was not disclosed, was intoxicated when she hailed a ride outside the hotel around 9:00 PM. Instead of driving her home, the driver diverted to a secluded area, where he forced her out of the vehicle and assaulted her.
"He just left me there, and I can’t remember everything that happened. I just remember parts," she stated in her testimony.
After the attack, she walked to a nearby building, hailed another taxi, went home, and slept.
The next morning, after recalling parts of the incident, she immediately reported the crime to the Dubai Police.
Investigation and Court Proceedings
Following her report, the police launched an investigation and referred the woman for a forensic medical examination. The driver was identified by the victim during lineup procedures at the police station.
During questioning, the accused denied the charges, claiming that the woman did not remember her residence and had no money to pay for the ride. He also alleged that he was not provided with a translator during police questioning, leading to a misstatement of his testimony.
Forensic reports, however, confirmed evidence consistent with the woman’s allegations.
Despite his claims, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to one year in jail, followed by deportation.
