Uber driver accused of raping teen allegedly turned off app before sexually assaulting her

During opening submissions in the Brisbane District Court, prosecutors alleged Sakaria Taufao, 50, approached the 18-year-old in the street just after midnight when she had left a nightclub, and convinced her to let him drive her to Fortitude Valley.

Crown Prosecutor Michael Gawrych told the court that, not long into the trip, Mr Taufao switched off his Uber application, which disabled the GPS monitoring.

Mr Gawrych said he then allegedly turned down a "dirt road" in Redbank Plains before demanding the teenager "get in the backseat".

"She described it as dark and surrounded by a lot of trees and not much else around the area," he said.

"She complied because she felt intimidated and did not want to escalate the situation."

Mr Gawrych told the court Mr Taufao then forced the woman to have "quick and rough" intercourse with him before ordering her to return to the front of the car.

"At no stage did she consent to having sexual intercourse with him," he said.

"He told her to get into the front seat and he drove her to Fortitude Valley in Brisbane city. Once they arrived, he told her to 'get out' and the car drove away."

Uber app

Victim's driver's licence allegedly kept for two years

The court heard Mr Taufao's alleged offending did not come to light until almost two years later, when police discovered the victim's missing drivers licence inside his car during a search, and investigators contacted her.

"She had put it in her bra, which is something that she didn't ordinarily do," Mr Gawrych said.

"The crown alleges this was dropped by her during the commission of the rape in the defendant's vehicle and kept by him."

Four witnesses, including two of the victim's friends and her brother, gave evidence on Tuesday afternoon, telling the jury the victim had confided in them at separate times about the alleged sexual assault.

Mr Taufao's defence lawyer did not make an opening address, but his client has denied the attack and pleaded not guilty to one count of rape.

The trial is set to run for four days before Judge Michael Burnett and is also expected to hear evidence from an Uber representative and a mapping expert.Follow the Official Rokna NEWS Telegram Channel For More and fresh NEWS.

abc