A Massachusetts Uber driver faced a judge Thursday after he allegedly sexually assaulted a passenger and refused to let the victim leave his car.
Kastriot Naksi, 46, of Boston's West Roxbury neighborhood, was ordered to be held without bail by a judge following his arrest Wednesday afternoon on charges of indecent assault and battery and kidnapping.
During his arraignment, a prosecutor said Naksi admitted to having his hand on the 22-year-old victim's inner thigh, and that the victim videotaped the assault.
Naksi, who sobbed as he walked out of court, moved to Boston from Albania seven years ago.
Naksi’s wife and two sons defended him outside court.
His wife Monika Naksi said, "I’ve been married to him for 23 years and I know what kind of husband I have so that is impossible for him to do."
Police said they received a call just before 1 p.m. Wednesday from someone saying her friend had just been sexually assaulted by an Uber driver. While driving to Cottage Avenue in Quincy, Naksi allegedly pulled over to the side of the road and told the victim to get in the front seat.
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Because it was a ride-share Uber, police say the victim agreed. She said the driver then touched her inappropriately. When she told the driver to stop and let her out, he allegedly locked the door.
“The victim reported he started hitting on her, telling her that he loved her and wanted to marry her," said Assistant District Attorney Moira Daly. "He placed his hand on her thigh and he moved it into her inner thigh.”
Prosecutors say the victim was "extremely terrified" as Naksi allegedly touched her under her jeans.
"The victim actually took a video of this with her phone, when she was texting her friend for help," Daly said. "She tried to get out of the car, she asked him to stop several times. He locked the doors and would not stop."
Prosecutors allege during the assault Naksi even picked up another fare, and despite the victim whispering “help me” the passenger was dropped off without assisting her.
She then texted her friend, who called police. The victim also sent her friend a screenshot of her location.
After sending out a "be on the lookout" alert, Quincy police located Naksi's gray Honda Civic driving on Cottage Avenue at 1:20 p.m. Police stopped the car, at which point the victim was allowed to exit the vehicle and Naksi was taken into custody.
A judge ordered Naksi to be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Dec. 6. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
Naksi passed Uber's criminal background check, and the charges he faces violates the company's "Community Guidelines," according to the ride-sharing company.
"What's been described is deeply concerning," an Uber spokesperson said. "Upon learning this, we immediately removed the driver's access to the app and we stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation."
