Kais Dahdal: Mother felt ‘violated and broken’ after being molested by fake Uber driver

A single mother was in tears in court as she revealed the anguish she’s experienced since a fake Uber driver molested her in the Illawarra last year. Read about the chilling behaviour.

A Balgownie mother of two has revealed the torment she’s endured since “the night when everything changed” when she was molested by a man she believed was an Uber driver.

Ashleigh Rauicava was the second of Kais Dahdal’s two victims, who he set upon while masquerading as a rideshare driver one night in October last year.

Earlier this year, Dahdal, a 35-year-old who was a surgeon in his native Syria before moving to Wollongong for “a better life”, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and one count of driving without ever holding a license.

On Monday, Ms Rauicava told the court the incident “broke her” and led to her quitting her job, moving house and being uncomfortable around men.

“The night I met this man was the night everything changed for me,” she said. “My children have seen me cry more than they ever should have, I had to walk away from my job which I just couldn‘t find the courage to go to anymore.

“I decided to relocate homes and try for a new start, but still find every night I am still replaying it over and terrified to leave my home.

“I don’t feel comfortable around men... I can’t even walk down the street with someone walking behind me. I feel like I am being watched if I am out and about and have developed this awful fear of men.

“I don’t want to date, I left my partner at the time and felt as though I couldn’t be intimate with him because I felt so violated and like I was just a worthless woman that men can’t respect.”

Ms Rauicava explained to the court via her victim’s impact statement that she “doesn’t want to feel weak anymore” for the sake of her children.

Kais Dahdal (green jacket) leaving Wollongong Courthouse with his legal representatives and his wife (blue jacket). Picture: Dylan Arvela

“I have such a long way to go to recover from this and I just hope that my boys never have to see their mummy so broken ever again,” she said.

“I want to be my normal confident self that was attending amazing events and smiling bright. Just one man on one night has changed me completely of the person I used to be and now I have a long road to walk to gain full strength again.

“I deserve more, my boys deserve more.”

Dahdal’s appalling behaviour occurred on the night of Saturday, October 23, 2021, when he was driving his wife’s silver sedan around the Wollongong CBD scouting potential victims.

The first victim had been revelling with two friends when they left the Illawarra Hotel at around 1.40am. One of the three women left while the other two tried to get an Uber, however, the victim wasn’t able to log in to her Uber app.

Dahdal took advantage of the situation, pulling up beside them before saying “I’m an Uber, do you want a lift?”.

Security footage saw the victim hop in the front passenger seat, while her friend jumped in the back seat.

The phony Uber driver told them the app wasn’t working so the friend directed him to her address before she exited the vehicle.

Then Dahdal asked the victim where she lived and she responded “It’s really close by, just up there”.

Kais Dahdal was unmasked inside Wollongong Courthouse, but opted to completely cover up as he left the building. Picture: Dylan Arvela

However, Dahdal drove off in the opposite direction and after the victim alerted him of this, he replied words to the effect of “We are just going for a drive” before lighting a cigarette and taking a puff.

Dahdal then grabbed the woman’s thigh and kissed her on the lips - she pulled away before he urged “Want to have some fun?”.

The terrified victim asked “What do you mean fun” with Dahdal replying ”Want to f***?”.

“No, no... I really need to get home, my boyfriend is waiting for me,” she pleaded.

Dahdal started driving again and the victim, realising he was not an Uber driver, got out $40 before telling him to go to her street, though she wouldn’t give him the exact address.

The car stopped on her street before she threw her money at him and fled for her home.

At 2.40am the victim messaged a group chat with her friends “The ‘Uber’ that me and my friend got was f*****”.

The following day she, with the support of a friend, reported the incident to police and the following week she was able to identify Dahdal out of 20 photographs.

Both victims had been enjoying themselves at the Illawarra Hotel before the incidents. Picture: Facebook

Around when the first victim had messaged her friends, Ms Rauicava was leaving the Illawarra Hotel with a friend who organised an Uber for her.

Ms Rauicava was waiting on Keira St as Dahdal pulled up near her and she asked if it was her Uber. She stepped into the rear seat on the passenger side as Dahdal drove north along Keira St.

Dahdal asked for her address after telling her the Uber app wasn’t working and Ms Rauicava obliged and started giving directions.

“I can’t really hear you, do you mind if I pull over and you jump in the front,” Dahdal asked, and Ms Rauicava then hopped in the front seat.

Dahdal said “How are you going to pay me?”, while reminding Ms Rauicava of his lie that the Uber app wasn’t working.

“Look mate, all I’ve got on me is $25 cash, that’s all I can give you,” she said. “I’m more than happy to transfer you money if I have to.”

Dahdal took the money, but said she “owed more” before rubbing her leg, “You could pay me in other ways... you can pay me in sex”.

Ms Rauicava told him to pull over and said she would call the police before jumping out of the car. She pretended to enter her house as Dahdal drove off and then she dashed towards her actual abode.

At around 3am, Ms Rauicava was crying hysterically as she recounted her horrific experience to her mother over the phone before calling the friend who she was with earlier to explain what had happened.

Kais Dahdal being followed by television media leaving Wollongong Courthouse on Monday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Two days later, police sighted the unlicensed Dahdal driving the vehicle at an intersection in Wollongong with his wife in the passenger seat.

Officers arrested Dahdal and his wife informed them her husband had told her he had picked up a female and drove her home after being “waved down”, however, she didn’t say her husband had done anything to the female.

In court on Monday, Dahdal’s lawyers, Greg Stanton, told Magistrate Claire Girotto his client was a “broken man” and said the coverage of the case has seen the former Red Crescent doctor become a pariah.

“In the context of this man’s life, this must be regarded as a significant aberration,” Mr Stanton said.

“He’s become persona non grata... he’s been bashed from pillar to post by the press. There have been attacks by the press on him and his wife... It is appropriate to describe him as somewhat of a pariah.

“He wakes every day knowing he can’t be a doctor... It’s a sad realisation. He wakes every day knowing he’s destroyed his life, his impact on the two victims and the impact on his wife and child - he is the author of that devastation.”

Magistrate Girotto said this would be a “difficult sentencing” before adjourning the matter until Tuesday, July 26.

Dahdal will remain on bail until that point.