Uber driver denies sex assault
Refugee set to contest charges
AN uber driver who allegedly stroked the leg of a female passenger five times during a short trip has denied sexually assaulting the 22-year-old.
Aman Yousufi, 32, allegedly preyed on the university student while she sat in the front seat as he drove her to her boyfriend’s home in Geelong West on March 16.
Mr Yousufi, from Corio, allegedly touched the woman above the knee while she was wearing shorts but she rejected his alleged advances, the Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.
Police prosecutor Victoria McPhee told the court Mr Yousufi allegedly told the woman he didn’t want the trip to end and that he “didn’t want to say goodbye”.
AN Uber driver who allegedly stroked the leg of a female passenger five times during a short trip has denied sexually assaulting the 22-year-old.
Aman Yousufi, 32, allegedly preyed on the university student while she sat in the front seat as he drove her to her boyfriend’s home in Geelong West on March 16.
Mr Yousufi, from Corio, allegedly touched the woman above the knee while she was wearing shorts but she rejected his alleged advances, the Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.
Police prosecutor Victoria McPhee told the court the driver allegedly told the woman he did not want the trip to end and that he “didn’t want to say goodbye”.
The woman left the Uber in tears about 3.44am and told police she felt “very uncomfortable and violated” following the incident.
The court heard the woman was on a night out with friends at Geelong nightspots before she was picked up at 3.38am after she ordered the Uber to Moorabool St.
Leading Senior Constable McPhee told the court Mr Yousufi claimed he touched the woman above the knee to wake her after she fell asleep during the trip that ended on Autumn St, Geelong West.
Mr Yousufi’s lawyer Jonathan Barreiro said his client admitted he touched the woman but “not in a sexual manner”.
Magistrate Michael Coghlan indicated if the driver pleaded guilty he would deal with the matter by convicting him and having him assessed for a community corrections order.
“If it had been any more serious I would have been considered an immediate term of imprisonment,” Mr Coghlan said.
But Mr Yousufi rejected the indication.
Mr Barreiro said his client “maintains firmly his innocence and asks for the matter to go to a contested hearing”.
Three civilian witnesses and a police officer are expected to give evidence during Mr Yousufi’s one-day hearing next year.
Mr Coghlan said incidents similar to the alleged offending were not uncommon, but the alleged offending was serious.
The court heard Mr Yousufi came to Australia as a refugee and was now a permanent resident.
Mr Barreiro said his client was a prominent member of the local Afghan community.