Asia-Pacific

Judge sends Uber rape suspect to custody for two weeks

Indian court asks police to explain steps taken by Uber app executives

Protesters shout slogans at a candle light vigil on Monday against the rape of a female taxi passenger in New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/ Reuters
Protesters shout slogans at a candle light vigil on Monday against the rape of a female taxi passenger in New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/ Reuters
Thu Dec 11 2014 - 12:14

An Indian court sent the Uber taxi driver accused of raping a young passenger to judicial custody for two weeks.

The attack in New Delhi led the government to request a nationwide ban on the popular US online cab company.

Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey on Wednesday ordered the accused Shiv Kumar Yadav, 32, to be kept in Delhi’s Tihar jail until December 24th. He also asked the police to explain steps taken against Uber executives.

The case has caused uproar in India after it emerged that the suspect had been previously charged with sexual offences, including rape.

READ MORE

Uber failed to uncover the charges because it does not carry out background checks on drivers in India.

Reuters