An Uber driver has been charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a passenger in Friendswood, Texas. Sameh Chami, 49, is currently being held in the Friendswood County Jail. Court documents reported that Chami intentionally ended a trip early and was later found with the victim in an empty parking lot after the victim's family tracked her through a separate app. According to a FOX 26 Houston report, security footage showed Chami getting into the backseat with the victim for over a minute.
The 21-year-old victim, who had called the Uber from Buckshot's Saloon, was allegedly inebriated and barely conscious during the ride. Friendswood police say that Chami has also been hit with an immigration detainer. The victim, now accusing Chami of sexual assault, is to rightly pursue legal action. In a statement obtained by CW39, police detailed that the victim's sister had been tracking her and alerted the authorities when something appeared off, leading to her safe return home.
In response to the severe charges, Uber has removed the driver's access to the app and released a statement expressing their readiness to support law enforcement in their investigation. However, they have not provided specific answers to questions about Chami's history as a driver or the measures in place to ensure riders' safety. Local attorney Kelley Bogusevic emphasizes the critical nature of such safety measures and the necessity for both the company and the riders to be constantly vigilant.
To further protect themselves, Bogusevic advises riders to "verify who your driver is before riding" and "check the drivers star rating and reviews", as stated in an interview with FOX 26. Additionally, she suggests to actively follow the route and share the trip progress with loved ones using a separate app. In the tragic event something bad does happen, she insists on calling 911 personally, not through the rideshare app, and reporting any incidents immediately to both the police and the rideshare company.
