November 01, 2018
An Uber driver from Lansdale, Montgomery County, has been charged with raping a passenger who was unconscious in his vehicle, Pennsylvania State Police said.
Ahmed M. Elgaafary, 26, faces multiple charges, including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, indecent assault without consent, and indecent assault of an unconscious person.
The alleged incident occurred Feb. 10 around 2:20 a.m., after investigators said Elgaafary had picked up the woman from the Valley Forge Casino in King of Prussia. At some time between the passenger entering Elgaafary's vehicle and her arrival home in Chester County, police said Elgaafary allegedly had sex with the woman while she was unconscious.
Elgaafary is scheduled appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 7. He was arraigned Wednesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Joann Teyral.
Elgaafary is in Chester County Prison, unable to post $75,000 bail.
News of the incident comes after critics have accused Uber of silencing women who claim to have been sexually assaulted by the rideshare company's drivers, as well as female Uber drivers who say they have been sexually assaulted by passengers.
A report earlier this year accused Uber of urging women to handle sexual assault cases against the company's drivers "behind closed doors," rather than in the courts.
Another report from April said 103 Uber drivers have been accused of sexual assault or abuse.
Uber has been experimenting with new safety measures in some cities as more reports of sexual assault and other crimes arise. In Los Angeles, for example, a new feature will provide 911 responders information when an emergency call is dialed from the Uber app.
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