DUBAI // A drunk taxi driver drove an American tourist to a dark, sandy area and tried to rape her, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Thursday.
Afghani R A, 34, is charged with sexually assaulting S P in the early hours of November 26.
Prosecutors said he was driving the woman to a friend’s house when he decided to take a wrong turn onto a remote, dark street in Al Jaddaf.
He then stopped the car and stepped out to get into the back seat with the woman.
The woman said she tried to lock him out but the Afghani driver got to the door first and opened it.
He jumped on top of her to rape her but she resisted, pushing him away several times, prosecutors said. The woman said he struck her several times as he tried to restrain her before she managed to escape the car. She said the surrounding area was too dark to run anywhere and, when she screamed, no one came to her aid.
The American said she then got back into the taxi and insisted that R A drive her to her friend’s house. On the way, she said he touched her and when she tried to stop him, he hit her again.
Emirati policeman M A, 24, testified that at 2am on the day of the incident, a report of an assault was received. Police managed to track down the driver, who was found to be under the influence of alcohol. However, he was not charged with consuming alcohol illegally.
“When we arrested him he said he was drunk and that what he did was wrong and that he was sorry,” said M A.
The Afghani confessed to prosecutors that he assaulted the woman sexually and that, as he tried to kiss her, she resisted him and injured her hand.
However, at Dubai Criminal Court R A denied the charge of sexual assault.
The next hearing will be on October 15 to listen to the testimony of the victim.
salamir@thenational.ae
