Melbourne Magistrates’ Court: Mohamad Yahiya, of Pakenham, accused of raping teen
A Melbourne Uber driver has been accused of raping a teenager in the back of his car before throwing cash at her and kicking her to the kerb.
South East
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An Uber driver has been accused of raping a teenager in the back of his car before throwing cash at her and kicking her to the kerb.
Father of one Mohamad Yahiya, 45, pleaded not guilty to raping the teen girl during a committal hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where he appeared wearing a grey T-shirt and blue jeans.
Mr Yahiya was accused of picking up a teenage girl from outside Caramel nightclub on Flinders St before allegedly raping her, giving her $70 and leaving her stranded on the side of the road.
Mr Yahiya, of Pakenham, allegedly approached the girl in June in his white 2014 Toyota Camry, which displayed an Uber sticker.
The 19-year-old did not recall whether she had ordered an Uber and got in the car after Mr Yahiya asked if she needed a ride.
Police allege Mr Yahiya then drove the girl to Batman St, just minutes away, where he parked the car before holding up a condom and said, “Do you mind?“.
Mr Yahiya allegedly told the girl “It won’t take long; I’ll finish really fast”.
Police allege he then raped her before giving her $50, which she told police offended and confused her.
She then asked Mr Yahiya to drive her home, but he refused and gave her another $20.
On Friday, the 19-year-old’s friend told the court the complainant texted him “I just got raped” after the alleged attack.
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“In the first call, she said ‘I’ve been raped’ and something about how he gave her money and threw her out of the car,” he said.
The complainant’s friend then rushed to the teen on foot while remaining on the call.
The friend said the teen was “distraught in her breathing” when he found her near Flagstaff Gardens.
The court heard the 19-year-old became “non-verbal” and was shaken up after the alleged rape.
Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano committed Mr Yahiya to stand trial in the County Court early next year.
