In April, 30-year-old Ahmadfayim Bayat was also charged after allegedly driving a 34-year-old woman to a Richmond Hill parking lot and sexually assaulting her.
He is at least the third Toronto-area driver in little more than a year to be charged with sexual assault, while there is still a warrant out on another driver. Siziba allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman while driving her from Thornhill to Toronto in the early morning. When she decided to go to the ride-sharing service’s headquarters in downtown Toronto, Szabo said employees told her there “was nothing we can do for you here” and recommended filing a report with police who have since opened a criminal harassment investigation.īut Szabo’s incident happened only three days after police charged Nephat Siziba, a 55-year-old former Uber driver with sexual assault.
Szabo reported the driver to Uber, but hadn’t heard a response. “I’m trying to connect people and show that even if you are a victim, it doesn’t mean that you’re not a strong person.” “I feel the more people do speak, the less acceptable these things become,” she said. After a period of reflection, she decided to go public with her story. When he stopped, Szabo said she “bolted” out of the car.Īt home, Szabo charged her phone and realized the payment had indeed gone through. But the driver kept driving to her apartment. The ride from Bay Street and Queen’s Quay to her home near Queen Street West and Roncesvalles Avenue “felt like forever.” In between the driver’s alleged advances, Szabo said she asked to be dropped off in a residential area and volunteered to walk home. “He really tried to spin it as if I was the bad guy.” “He kept repeating himself about this and about how I’m being rude because I’m not offering him a service back for (giving me a ride),” she said. “I thought he was going to lock me in (the car).” I’m trying to connect people and show that even if you are a victim, it doesn’t mean that you’re not a strong personĭuring the unnerving encounter, Szabo said, the driver was casual about his advances, even describing his alleged offer to pay her as “no big deal” because “it’s not like I’m asking you for sex.” “I thought it was a sick joke,” she said. Szabo, a YouTube entertainer, is still shaken, calling the experience “traumatic.” This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Manage Print Subscription / Tax Receipt.