An Uber driver has been arrested in connection with an alleged sexual assault of a teenage boy in Oshawa last month.
Durham Regional Police say the alleged victim was picked up by the male driver on Lakeview Parks Blvd on May 29 around 12:10 a.m. when he started a brief conversation and reached over to touch the boy’s genital area.
“When you arrange something like this and you just want to get from point A to point B … this is not something someone would ever consent to,” said Sgt. Bill Calder.
Police say the driver then stopped the vehicle and sexually assaulted the boy, who is under the age of 16. Investigators say the minor reported the incident to police the same day.
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Calder added the boy was originally supposed to travel with a companion.
“That other person didn’t continue on with the journey,” he said.
The accused, 29-year-old Ahmad Sohail, turned himself into police on Tuesday and was charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching.
Uber Canada said Wednesday the driver has been suspended and is no longer driving with the ridesharing company. It adds that it is cooperating with police.
In 2015, there were two similar incidents reported to Toronto Police.
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In June 2015, a 21-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted after using the Uber app to arrange for a drive from the Wellesley Street and Church Street area.
A few months later in September, another alleged sexual assault happened that involved a 25-year-old woman who entered an Uber vehicle in the Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue area.
“We are always endorsing the idea that whether you are taking a bus or any type of taxi travel, it’s always best to travel in pairs,” Calder said.
“Someone you can call for help in a situation like that.”