Taxi driver charged with sexual assaults
An Edmonton cab driver is facing sexual assault charges after two incidents within the past year.
Capital Taxi driver Shahid Shafiq, 38, is charged with one count of sexual assault for an incident Aug. 17, 2014, when a 19-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted while taking a Capital Taxi cab from 99th Street and 70th Avenue to 96th Avenue and 180th Street.
The second charge arises from an incident about 4 a.m. May 24, when a 25-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted after being picked up by a cab in the area of 82nd Avenue and 103rd Street.
In that case, the woman was allegedly taken against her will to the area of 87th Avenue and 116th Street and sexually assaulted. Shafiq is charged with sexual assault, committing an indecent act, and unlawful confinement in that case.
He made his first court appearance Friday afternoon via closedcircuit television. He was released on $2,000 bail and a condition not to operate a taxi. Evidence presented at the bail hearing cannot be published because of a publication ban.
Gord Beatty, Capital Taxi manager of operations, said Shafiq was immediately suspended after the company learned of the charges, and will remain so until the court case is complete.
“It’s important to us that people know Capital Taxi takes this case and any such charges very seriously,” he said. “We have been, and will continue to be, if requested, assisting the police in any way possible regarding this.”
He said management learned of the charges late Thursday. Edmonton police are asking anyone with additional information to contact them.