Edmonton cabbie charged with sexual assault on two passengers

WATCH ABOVE: The local cab driver charged with assaulting two women will be freed on bail. Fletcher Kent has more.

EDMONTON – An Edmonton taxi driver is facing a number of charges for two alleged sexual assaults on female passengers. One woman told police she was sexually assaulted while taking a taxi in late May, another said she was attacked last summer.

On Sunday, May 24 around 4 a.m., Edmonton police say a 25-year-old woman got into a cab in the area of Whyte Avenue and 103 Street. Officers say the driver took her to the area of 87 Avenue and 116 Street where the alleged sexual assault took place.

Shahid Shafiq, 38, has since been charged with sexual assault, committing an indecent act and unlawful confinement in relation to the incident. Global News has learned Shafiq is a driver with Capital Taxi.

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A representative with Capital Taxi tells Global News the driver has been suspended, pending a review by senior management. Capital Taxi says it is working with police.

Police say the 38-year-old has also been charged in connection with an incident on August 17, 2014, involving a 19-year-old female passenger.

Police say the teen got in a Capital Taxi in the area of 99 Street and 70 Avenue. When she was on the way to 96 Avenue and 180 Street she was allegedly sexually assaulted by the driver, according to police. Shafiq has been charged with one count of sexual assault in connection with the incident.

The City of Edmonton says Shafiq’s licence has been cancelled.

The Edmonton Police Service says it is also investigating an unrelated case of sexual assault allegedly involving a city cab driver.

According to police, a victim was picked up in the area of 99 Street and Whyte Avenue around 12:30 a.m. Police say the incident took place in late May.

*Editor’s Note: This story was updated with new information from Edmonton police, correcting the date of the first alleged incident.