US: Indian-origin Uber driver charged with kidnapping woman passenger
What's the story
An Indian-origin man working as an Uber driver has been charged with kidnapping in a US court after he allegedly groped a female passenger and dropped her several miles away from her destination.
Harbir Parmar, 24, is charged with one count of kidnapping, carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one of wire-fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment.
Details
Woman fell asleep in cab, Parmar changed destination on app
According to the allegations in the complaint, the woman booked a ride late night from Manhattan to her home in White Plains through Uber on February 21, 2018.
However, the woman fell asleep in the vehicle and Parmar changed her destination in Uber's mobile application to an address in Boston, Massachusetts, several miles away from her destination, and proceeded to drive towards Massachusetts.
Molestation
Woman wakes up, finds Parmar's hand inside her shirt
When the woman awoke, the vehicle was on the side of the road and Parmar's hand was under her shirt.
Parmar got back into his seat and continued driving.
He refused when the woman asked to be taken to White Plains or to the police station. He instead dropped her on a highway in Connecticut.
She then sought assistance from a nearby convenience store.
Fraud
Woman was charged over $1,000 for her ride
The following day, the woman called Uber to report the incident and found out that she was charged $1,047.55 for a trip from New York to Massachusetts.
Prosecutors in the court also alleged that from December 2016 through February 2018, Parmar sent false information about the destinations of Uber's customers through the company's mobile application on at least 11 occasions.
Information
Parmar's fraud conducts led to customers being heavily overcharged
Parmar also sent false information about a cleaning fee to be applied from the user's account on 3 occasions. In these instances, Uber customers filed complaints about being overcharged for their rides. These instances have resulted in over $3,600 in improper-charges to Uber's customers' accounts.
Uber's statement
Uber sacks Parmar, says will continue to support investigation
Following the woman's complaint, Uber said in a statement that it has fully cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to support their investigation.
"What's been reported is horrible and something no person should go through. As soon as we became aware, we immediately removed this individual's access to the platform," the company said in the statement.
Shameful behavior
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge condemns Parmar's act
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney said the woman utilized a ride-sharing service trusting that her driver would provide a safe ride home.
"Instead Harbir Parmar made an outrageous choice, deciding to unlawfully take advantage of his passenger at a moment of vulnerability for his own selfish motives. This kind of behavior should never be tolerated," he said, adding FBI will continue to bring justice.
NYPD's statement
Such behavior will never be tolerated: New York Police Commissioner
New York Police Commissioner James P O'Neill said the criminal acts outlined in the complaint are reprehensible.
"This individual's behavior goes far beyond ride-sharing companies' efforts to revise their ethics codes and put a stronger emphasis on background checks for their drivers," he said.
He added that the charges are appalling, and such behavior will never be tolerated.