April 27, 2016 - 8:02 AM
MARKHAM, Ont. - A man driving for the popular ride-hailing company Uber has been charged with sexual assault after an alleged attack on a passenger.
York Regional Police say the incident happened shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning when a woman in her 30s used the Uber app to arrange a ride in Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto.
Police say the driver took the woman to a parking lot in nearby Markham where she was allegedly sexually assaulted.
Police say 30-year-old Ahmadfayim Bayat is now charged with one count of sexual assault.
They say Uber has been co-operative in the investigation.
Bayat is due in court later today for a bail hearing.
Susie Heath, a spokeswoman for Uber, said in an email that the company takes "every safety incident very seriously and are committed to the safety of everyone who uses Uber."
"Upon hearing of this disturbing incident, we immediately removed the driver from the platform and contacted York Regional Police to offer our assistance and have supported them in their investigation," she added.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016