Taxi driver jailed in Dubai for molesting passenger, offering her money

A taxi driver has been sentenced by a Dubai court to three months in jail for sexually harassing a passenger.
The Dubai Court of First Instance earlier heard that on April 21, the 25-year-old Pakistani driver groped and inappropriately touched the Filipina woman more than once. He denied the charge in the court. He will be deported after completing his jail time.
The incident was reported at Jebel Ali police station.
During the public prosecution investigation, the driver admitted to having molested the passenger. He claimed he thought she was okay with his doings.
The passenger, a 24-year-old accountant, said she took the cab to Dubai Investment Park from Jumeirah Lake Towers at 9.44pm. "I sat in the front seat.
However, I was surprised by him taking the wrong street. I told him to drive straight to my destination as I was not carrying enough money to pay for the extra trip."
However, she was surprised again by him pulling over and telling her to pull her seat back. "I did as he told me but immediately realised the situation. "I asked him why he wanted me to sit like that. He replied that he did not want to be given a fine for me being in the car," she recalled.
She told the prosecutor that he then inappropriately touched her more than once and then tried to kiss her. "He said he liked me and would pay me. As I moved his hand away and stopped him from slipping Dh15 in my shirt pocket, he placed the money on my leg. I filmed him in the process. I then stepped out of the car and took a picture of the plate number. I went to the police station right after," she said.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai

Marie Nammour

mary@khaleejtimes.com