A taxi driver ‘sexually assaulted’ a British holidaymaker after picking her up in Magaluf before allegedly telling her as he kicked her out of his cab: ‘This is how things are done in Spain so get used to it.’
A friend of the holidaymaker’s hailed the taxi to help get her back to her hotel safely because she had been drinking heavily in the resort’s party strip Punta Ballena.
But the ‘rogue driver’ switched routes and took her to Palma airport instead after telling her to pay €50 (£43) upfront and getting her to move to the front passenger seat.
Public prosecutors allege the 28-year-old cabbie took advantage of the fact the 33-year-old British tourist was alone and drunk to touch her on her breasts and between her legs during the ride.
Indian-born Ranjit Singh was last night warned he faces up to three years in jail if convicted after being charged with sexually assaulting the tourist.
Public prosecutors also want him to compensate her with €7,000 (£5,990) if he is found guilty at trial.
The incident he will go to court over allegedly happened in the early hours of October 3 2023.
A three-page pre-trial indictment submitted by public prosecutors states the alleged victim’s friend stopped the taxi Singh was identified as driving to take her to her hotel from the Punta Ballena strip ‘due to her state and to protect her.’
It adds outlining the prosecution’s case: ‘The friend told the accused where he should take her.
‘A few metres into the journey, the accused stopped the vehicle and told the British woman she should pay €50 for the fare upfront and move from the back to sit beside him in the passenger seat.
‘She followed his instructions, paying with a card.
‘Following on from that the accused, taking advantage of an inebriated woman who was alone in a place she didn’t know, changed the agreed route and took the motorway towards the airport.
‘On the way, with lascivious and lustful intent, he touched her breasts and her groin over her clothes and tried to kiss her.
‘When they reached the airport he told her to get out and said: “This is how things are done in Spain so get used to it.”
Public prosecutors say the British tourist has needed counselling for ‘severe anxiety and depression’ she suffered, adding in their indictment: ‘The main problem are the traumatic flashbacks.’
It is not yet clear how the accused cabbie will plea when the case gets to court. A date for the trial has yet to be set.
