Chicago Uber driver is second in 3 weeks to be charged with sex assault
An Uber driver has been charged with sexually assaulting a passenger in Chicago, the second such case there in less than three weeks.
Adnan Nafasat, 46, of Villa Park, Ill., was charged Wednesday with criminal sexual assault, unlawful restraint and kidnapping, according to a news release from the Chicago Police Department.
According to police, Nafasat grabbed a 21-year-old man by the neck and forcefully touched him around 1 a.m. on July 31.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Nafasat was driving for the ride-sharing service UberX when the alleged assault occurred.
Nafasat allegedly refused to let the man leave the vehicle. Police say the man was not injured and refused medical attention.
According to records with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Nafasat’s bail has been set at $150,000. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 3.
A 30-year-old man was charged with sexual assault on Dec. 30 for allegedly assaulting a 22-year-old woman he picked up for the ride-sharing service in November.
That driver, Maxime Fouhounhedo, was using an Uber account under his wife’s name, Sheena Fohounhedo, even though his photo and phone number were on the account, the company said.
Uber suspended that driver shortly after the allegations were made.
Charges against both drivers come as the ride-hailing industry faces increased scrutiny over its screening processes for drivers.
The Los Angeles and San Francisco county district attorneys filed lawsuits against Uber last month for allegedly misleading customers over the thoroughness of its driver background checks.
Uber has said that it would roll out increased safety measures in 2015, but has yet to detail those measures.
The company recently announced additional safety measures in New Delhi, including police verification, strengthened background checks and local “incident response teams.” The government in New Delhi suspended the service there after a driver was charged with sexually assaulting a passenger, claiming Uber had failed to check the driver’s past.
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