NEW YORK CITY, NY - On Tuesday, Manhattan Special Victims Squad of the NYPD arrested Muhammad Wasim, 36, after the cab driver reportedly sexually assaulted two women in separate incidents.
The first victim, a 28-year-old woman, hailed his cab at the intersection of Houston and Thompson Streets, around 1:30 a.m. on October 11. When the woman, who was sitting in the front seat, tried to exit the taxi, Wasim allegedly closed the door, grabbed her breasts and groped the victim under her shirt.
A surveillance camera which captured the attack, also show Wasim pulling the woman's face towards his and kissing her, according to police.
The victim was able to escape after about 15 minutes of fighting-off the Pakistani national.
The New York Post reported:
Then around 4:30 a.m. Oct. 20, Wasim allegedly jumped a 36-year-old woman from behind and grabbed her breasts on West 12th Street between West 4th Street and Greenwich Avenue in the West Village.
The victim ran off, but Wasim followed her, pushed her to the ground, stood over her, straddled her and then grabbed at her groin area, before fleeing, prosecutors said.
Wasim was charged with one count of first-degree attempted rape and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Despite being a flight risk, because of New York's recently passed so-called 'bail reform' laws the immigrant was ordered held on $30,000 bond.
Wasim merely needed to come up with 10 percent of the bond, and was released two days later, on Thursday.
The investigation is ongoing and police have reason to believe he has more victims, and are urging them to come forward by calling CrimeStoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
