Sai Ram Karnekota sexually assaulted two women while working as taxi, Uber driver on Gold Coast

A man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting several female passengers while working as a taxi and rideshare driver on the Gold Coast – but now faces a nervous wait to learn his fate. SEE WHY

A taxi and rideshare driver who sexually assaulted several female passengers tried to tell police one of his victims – who jumped from a moving car to escape – had consented.

Sai Ram Karnekota pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault in Southport District Court on Tuesday, after targeting two women within just months.

Crown prosecutor Ryan Godfrey said Karnekota had an Uber sticker on his vehicle when he picked up his first victim from a pub in the city’s south in the early hours of November 6, 2022.

Mr Godfrey said the 29-year-old drove the woman to her home then reached around and squeezed her right breast as she went to get out of the car.

She hit his hand away and said, “Don’t f — king touch me,” before running inside.

The court was told it was on June 24 last year that Karnekota struck again, picking up his second victim from The Star casino in a taxi.

Sai Ram Karnekota leaving the Southport courthouse. Picture: Jessica Paul

Mr Godfrey said the woman asked Karnekota, “You guys have fun?”, at which he told her, “Do you want to have fun? … We’ll have fun now,” and told her to take off her seatbelt.

Despite the woman’s protests, Karnekota touched the woman’s thigh and genitalia and put his hand down her dress to grab her breast, driving his victim to jump from the vehicle while it was still moving at about 15km/h and run home.

Both women reported the sexual assaults to police in the following days.

Mr Godfrey said Karnekota gave a “self-serving” version of events to police, claiming his second victim had consented to sexual acts when she asked whether he was having fun.

Victim impact statements from both women revealed the anxiety and distress they suffered after the assaults, with the second also describing “overwhelming” self-blame and guilt diminishing her self-worth.

The court was told Karnekota suffered major depressive disorder and epilepsy, with a psychological report suggesting a link between his conditions or symptoms and his offending.

His sentence proceedings were adjourned part-heard to allow his defence team to produce a further neuropsychological or other expert report.

Karnekota’s case was adjourned to a date to be fixed. He remains on bail.

Originally published as Sai Ram Karnekota sexually assaulted two women while working as taxi, Uber driver on Gold Coast