A Perth rideshare driver has been found not guilty of indecently assaulting a female passenger who accused him of repeatedly touching her while traveling with her southern suburb home Northbridge
Ootamcoomar Dhurumsing, 52, had been on trial in Perth Magistrates’ Court for two days on four counts of indecent assault
He allegedly touched the 22-year-old passenger on the upper thigh and chest and kissed her after picking her up on the night of October 5 last year
She testified via video link from a remote room and sobbed as she described she was in shock and felt terrified and uncomfortable
The court heard that she texted her boyfriend telling him she was ‘touched’, but said she did not answer his repeated phone calls because she had too scared
She said the alleged assaults took place after Mr. Dhurumsing asked her if she liked to have fun with boys and if she would go to a « private place » with him
In his testimony today, Mr. Dhurumsing said he only touched the woman once – after they arrived in Northbridge and she took off her jacket to show him her tattoo
He said telling the woman that he had no interest in seeing him, he used his finger to touch him
He said the woman then kissed him on the cheek and told him he was a good driver from Ola before getting out of his vehicle
He denied asking inappropriate questions of the woman, but said he told her she was a « beautiful girl »
The woman testified that she was in the front seat of the car because when Mr. Dhurumsing arrived to look for her, she tried to get in the back but he told her the door was broken
However, in his testimony, Mr. Dhurumsing said the woman chose to sit in the front seat after saying she could sit anywhere she wanted
In his verdict, Magistrate Evan Shackleton said he had no reason to reject what the woman said or what Mr. Dhurumsing said
He said that if he didn’t believe everything M Dhurumsing had told the court he had found himself « unable to dismiss the fact that this might be true, he did not do the things that are alleged »
« In this case I find myself in a situation where I am unable to say where the truth lies and because of this I am forced to acquit, » Magistrate Shackleton said
Outside the court, Mr. Dhurumsing, moved, said the past year had been very difficult for him and his family
He broke down in tears saying the case should serve as a warning to other carpool drivers
« Any driver – taxi, Ola, Uber – watch out for this problem because it is not easy for drivers, » he says
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Perth indecent assault, Ola Cabs
World News – UA – Ola driver found not guilty of indecent assault on Perth woman during ‘a trip to Northbridge
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– Ola driver found not guilty of indecent assault on a passenger in Perth
