ボストンのUber運転手が強姦罪で告発された。Bloombergによる。
男は12月6日の晩に女性客を乗せると、ATMで現金を引き出すよう依頼した後、人気のない場所へ連れていき殴打、強姦した。警察本部長Robert Haasおよびミドルセックス郡検事総長Marian Ryanは、Uberの登録データから容疑者をAlejandr Done 46歳であることを特定した。警察発表資料によると、Uberは本件の捜査において、警察に協力し情報を提供している。
Bloombergによると、Done容疑者が本被害者を標的とするためにあえてUberを利用したかどうかは不明だが、DoneがUberの契約運転手であることは確認されている。
本誌はさらに、容疑者がUber運転手に義務付けられている地域、州および国レベルの身元調査に合格していたことも確認した。
アップデート：UberからTechCrunch宛に声明が届いた。
これは極めて卑裂な犯罪であり、心から被害者の回復を祈るばかりである。Uberは警察当局と密に行動を取りながら、今後も全面的に捜査に協力していく所存である
さらに残念なことに、ボストンで今月起きたUber運転手によるレイプ疑惑はこれが初めてではない。The Boston Globeによると、日曜日（米国時間12/14）夜にボストンで暴行された女性3人のうち少なくとも2名が、容疑者はUber運転手だと確信している。
12月は何ともUberにとって残酷な月となった ― 評価額400億ドルで、12億ドルを調達したことを別にして。
Uberはこの他、インドのニューデリーでもレイプ事件を起こし、当地での営業を中止させられた。その後もオランダ、ポートランド州、フランス、ブリュッセル等、数々の地域で様々な問題によってサービス閉鎖に追い込まれた。Uberの地元サンフランシスコでさえ、「誤解を招く表現」その他の違法行為に対して、民事訴訟を起こされている。
そして以上は最新のニュースにすぎない。過去にも乗客の頭部をハンマーで殴打したUberX運転手や、サンフランシスコで女性をはねて死亡させたUber運転手がいた。同社は責任を否定したが、運転手は今月告発された。
しかし昨日Uberは、より高度な技術と厳格な手続きよる審査をもって契約運転手を採用することを約束した。
ただしUberの利用規約は変わらず、乗車中の運転手による素行や行動について会社は責任を負わないと記載されている。安全で良識ある運転手を選ぶかどうかはあなた次第です、お客さん。これはUberが物流業者兼乗客と運転手のマッチング業者であり、輸送会社ではないためだ。
当局の発表全文は以下の通り（原文）：
CAMBRIDGE – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas announced that a Boston man, who works as a driver for Uber, has been arraigned on several charges in connection with a sexual assault. Cambridge Police continue to investigate this matter. It is not known at this time if the defendant used information he gained through his position as an Uber driver to target this alleged victim. Uber has been cooperative and has provided assistance with this ongoing investigation.
Alejandro Done, 46, of Boston, was arraigned on charges of rape, assault to rape, kidnapping, and assault and battery (two counts).
Cambridge District Court Judge Roanne Sragow ordered the defendant held pending a Dangerousness Hearing, pursuant to MGL c. 276 s. 58A, scheduled for Wednesday, December 24 at 9:00am.
“We allege that this defendant picked up a young woman, presenting himself as the driver for a ride-sharing service, and then drove her to a secluded location where he beat and sexually assaulted her,” said District Attorney Ryan. “This alleged predator took advantage of a young woman who trusted that he was who he portrayed himself to be and exploited her vulnerability once he had her in his car.”
“Every day people are engaging car services for their transportation needs, and placing their trust in them for their personal safety and security,” District Attorney Ryan said. “While these services are a convenience, and often a necessity of modern urban living, we urge everyone to take precautions to ensure they are as safe as possible. Confirm that the car you are getting into is the particular one you have ordered. Be cautious if the driver is asking you to do something that you understand to be against company policy, as when they request you pay by cash when you understand that the company receives payment by credit card. There are some simple steps that you can take to reduce your exposure to harm from people intent on using these worthwhile services to take advantage of victims.”
“I’m very proud of our detectives, particularly with how diligently they investigated and were able to collaborate with multiple agencies on such a complex case,” said Superintendent Christopher Burke of the Cambridge Police Department. “As a result, the individual allegedly responsible for this serious offense has been apprehended.”
Authorities allege that on December 6, at approximately 7:30pm, the defendant pulled up to a residence on Tremont Street in Boston, where a young woman was waiting for a pre-arranged ride-sharing driver. The woman had been out with friends and decided to use a car service to get home. Once she got inside the car, she told the driver her destination and he instructed her that he would need cash payment. The defendant stopped while the woman went to an ATM to get cash and then returned to the car.
The defendant then drove to a location that the passenger was not familiar with, pulled over in a secluded area and jumped in the backseat where she was sitting. He allegedly struck her with his hands, strangled her, locked the car doors so that she could not escape and covered her mouth so she could not scream. During an ensuing physical struggle, the defendant allegedly sexually assaulted the woman.
Cambridge Police began an immediate investigation into this matter and during the investigation allegedly identified the defendant as the driver of the car through the ride-sharing service company records. The woman subsequently allegedly identified the defendant as the person who assaulted her.
These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Kate Kleimola. The Victim Witness Advocate is Helena Clarke.
[原文へ]
（翻訳：Nob Takahashi / facebook）