Bus driver accused of assaulting handicapped woman on bus

Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for a bus driver if he is found guilty of sexually assaulting a disabled woman.

The 26-year-old Pakistani driver appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday where he denied a charge of rape.
The court was told that the horrific crime was carried out on a bus, in the presence of a female supervisor who was placed on board to look after passengers.
It is alleged the driver attacked the passenger, who is in her twenties, as he drove her home from a special needs club. The woman was the last passenger on the bus and was being taken to Al Warqa.
Official records state that the 39-year-old Filipina supervisor testified: “The driver was talking with her in Arabic and then he stopped the bus and demanded that I move down to the front seats. He then went to the back of the bus where she was.
“I couldn’t see exactly what was happening because I was scared and in shock but I felt the bus shaking for 10 minutes.
“I then saw the young woman doing up her trousers and fixing her abaya.”
The supervisor claims she saw the defendant do up his trousers and return to his seat.
The witness added: “I went and asked the woman what happened and she claimed that nothing happened.
“The defendant then asked me not to say anything.”
The supervisor informed the club and police were called.
A medical report showed that the alleged victim is mentally handicapped and only has the mental capabilities of a child.
She stated in official records: “He asked if he could touch my breasts. I refused but he took me to the back of the bus and assaulted me.”
Prosecutors said that during questioning the defendant confessed to sexually molesting the woman but denied rape.
It is believed that the bus driver had tried to have a relationship with the alleged victim before the attack. Mobile phone records showed that he had called her 180 times although he had denied contacting her.
The case was adjourned. The driver will stay in custody.