Uber Driver Sentenced to 15 Years in Jail for Alleged Kidnap & Assault

A Cairo Criminal Court has sentenced an Uber driver to 15 years in prison for the assault of Nabila Awad, a resident of Nasr City.

The court, presided over by Counselor Madbouly Kassab, found the driver guilty of kidnapping by fraud and indecent assault by force and threat. The verdict was reached following a trial held in the Fifth Settlement, with Counselor Abdel-Azim Al-Ashry, Ahmed Maher El-Gendy, and Amir Adel Ramzy serving as judges.

The incident occurred when Nabila Awad booked the driver's Uber car. The driver subsequently disabled the ride-hailing app's tracking feature and diverted from the intended route, taking the victim to a secluded location. There, he assaulted the victim, threatening her with a knife. Fortunately, two passers-by intervened, forcing the driver to flee the scene.

The Public Prosecution's investigation confirmed the kidnapping and assault charges, concluding that the driver's actions were premeditated. The victim, who attended the trial, expressed gratitude to the police for their swift response and recounted the harrowing ordeal. Her sister, Sally Awad, also testified about the incident, detailing the driver's threats and the victim's bravery in resisting the attack.

The defense argued that the victim had fabricated the story to “get on a trend,” expressing regret for the accused driver. However, the court's verdict upheld the prosecution's case, sentencing the driver to 15 years in prison.