A new artificial intelligence system will monitor the performance of taxi drivers in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National 
A new artificial intelligence system will monitor the performance of taxi drivers in Dubai. Pawan Singh/The National 

Sleeping British teacher groped by Dubai taxi driver, court hears



A Dubai taxi driver groped a passenger after she fell asleep in his cab, a court heard.

The British teacher, 31, said she woke to find the Pakistani man 'touching me' before he attempted to kiss her.

The victim said she had given the driver directions to her home in Silicon Oasis but had instead been taken to a secluded area of the city, surrounded by under-construction buildings.

The court heard she had flagged down the taxi on November 1 of last year.

“It was around 11:30pm when I stopped the taxi and gave him directions, then sat in the front before I fell asleep. I woke up to him touching me,” said the teacher.

“He stepped out of his seat and opened the door next to me. He then drew close and touched my breast and tried to kiss me.”

When the woman screamed, the 25-year-old accused returned to the driver's seat and headed towards her destination.

“He told me he could have reported me to police for drinking alcohol but instead he wanted to please me,” said the teacher.

Once she arrived home, the woman contacted Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority to report the incident.

She was told to contact police, who tracked the man down and arrested him.

During questioning, he admitted touching the teacher after believing she was flirting with him.

A police officer told the court the driver confessed to disconnecting the taxi's camera in order to carry out the assault.

He admitted a sexual assault charge during a hearing on Monday.

The case was adjourned until January 13, when a verdict is expected to be handed down.

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