Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A Pakistani driver of a luxury transport company 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 ruled. The case dates back to April last year when a Polish woman booked a ride home from a five-star hotel in Business Bay. Court records indicate that the driver deviated from the designated route, taking the passenger to a secluded, poorly lit area where he assaulted her. The victim, whose age was not disclosed, told investigators that she had been intoxicated when she entered the vehicle at around 9pm. The ride initially seemed normal, but she soon realized they were not heading in the right direction. “I just remember parts of what happened. He made me step out of the car, then led me to a sandy area where he assaulted me. After that, he left me there,” the woman recalled in her testimony. Dazed and distressed, she walked to a nearby building, hailed a taxi, and went home. The next morning, she contacted the police after regaining more memories of the assault. Authorities launched an investigation and subjected the woman to a forensic medical examination. The driver was later summoned for questioning, where he denied the charges, claiming the woman was too intoxicated to remember what had happened. During the lineup procedure at the police station, the victim identified the driver, leading to his arrest. Forensic reports further confirmed evidence consistent with the victim’s testimony. The driver defended himself in court, alleging that police investigators did not provide a translator during questioning, which led to a misstatement of his testimony. However, the court dismissed his claim and found him guilty of sexual assault. He was sentenced to one year in prison, after which he will be deported. The ruling aligns with Dubai’s strict laws on sexual offenses, which impose severe penalties on offenders. ICA/Expat Media
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