Cab driver accused of groping female passenger

A taxi driver has been charged in the Court of First Instance with molesting a female passenger while dropping her to her place, in Dubai.

 The 36-year-old Pakistani is believed to have taken advantage of the fact that the Japanese woman sat in the front seat to allegedly grope her against her will and make her touch him. The incident happened on November 28, last year.

 The complainant, a 27-year-old hostess, said she rode in a taxi - driven by the accused - at around 10pm from outside a hotel in Bur Dubai. "I sat in the front and told him to drop me in Al Nahda 1. During the trip, he started a conversation with me in English," she said.

 The woman said the driver asked her whether she had a boyfriend and she replied positively.

 She claimed that he touched and groped her and also slipped his hand under her clothes. She pushed his hand away. "He then asked me whether I drink alcohol and I told him I did occasionally."

 He then pulled her mobile phone from her hand and saved his number in it so that she could call him to go out together.

 Upon reaching her place and before she stepped off the car he touched her again, she claimed in the investigation. She complained against him later at Al Qusais police station. The driver admitted in the investigation to the charge. A verdict is expected on February 10.