Warrant out for cabbie who skipped sentencing
Man was convicted of sexual assault on drunk passenger
Calgary police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a cabbie found guilty of sexually assaulting an inebriated passenger in the back of his taxi after he failed to show up for his sentencing hearing.
Police said Muhammad Nadeem Irshad, 37, was due to appear in court Nov. 9 to be sentenced in the 2015 sexual assault of a female passenger who had fallen asleep in the back of his taxi after a night of drunken revelry at the Stampede.
The victim, a 30-year-old woman who can’t be named, had spent the day at the Stampede rodeo, continuing a day of drinking at a number of other watering holes before being picked up by a taxi on 17 Avenue S.W.
Her friend, also in the taxi, was dropped off and the victim was to be taken to her home, but she fell asleep on the way to her Bankview residence, court heard.
According to the woman, she awoke to find the cab driver forcing her to perform oral sex, an encounter that lasted as long as a minute.
Irshad was convicted of sexual assault in June and was released on the promise to appear for his sentencing, an appointment police said he didn’t show up for.
Although the court heard Irshad was never fully identified by sight, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Michele Hollins said the victim’s testimony was convincing.
His lawyer argued it was a case of mistaken identity, but the judge didn’t believe his story.
“I am also convinced beyond a reasonable doubt the accused (was present),” Hollins said in June.
“I’m satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt the accused was operating the vehicle.”
In 2016, the victim sued Associated Cabs for $250,000 in connection with the incident, a fact Hollins found to be immaterial to the
I am also convinced beyond a reasonable doubt the accused (was present). I’m satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt the accused was operating the vehicle.
criminal case.
Irshad is 5-foot-10, 195 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800222-8477.