Uber driver accused of raping passenger in Boston

December 19, 2014 03:32

An Uber driver in Boston, US, has been charged with kidnapping and raping a customer of the ride-sharing service, in another potentially damaging case for the rapidly expanding company.

Alejandro Done, 46, allegedly drove a woman he picked up to a secluded area and then assaulted her in the back seat earlier this month. He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on Wednesday, the Boston Globe reports.

Uber says Done had passed a background check.

"This is a despicable crime and our thoughts and prayers are with the victim during her recovery," Uber spokesperson Kaitlin Durkosh said in a statement to CBS Boston.

"Uber has been working closely with law enforcement and will continue to do everything we can to assist their investigation."

The ride-sharing company is coming under increasing scrutiny in the US and abroad over regulatory and safety concerns as it expands to more than 50 countries. Several countries have moved to outlaw Uber services, and New Delhi banned Uber earlier this month days after a female passenger accused her Uber driver of rape.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

TISS suspends PhD student for screening BBC docu

'Your activities are not in the interest of the nation. Being a public institution, TISS cannot permit or tolerate its students indulging in such activities which are anti-national and bring a bad name to the nation. Hence all such...

Cong under fire as K'taka leader alleges 'love jihad' after daughter's murder

BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde sought to draw a parallel between Karnataka's handling of Neha Hiremath's killing to the way West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee allegedly shielded the Sandeshkhali case accused Shajahan Sheikh.

'I will do everything to play in T20 World Cup': DK

DK has taken his batting to a new level and displayed some astonishing power-hitting to strike at a rate of 205-plus.

Verstappen wins first sprint race of the F1 season

Max Verstappen won the first sprint race of the Formula One season at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday.

Should Dhoni bat higher up the order?

West Indies batting great Brian Lara believes CSK's Mahendra Singh Dhoni won't consider a promotion in the batting order.