A Uruguayan court has sentenced a taxi driver to three years in prison for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman. The incident occurred on March 24, 2024, when the victim hailed the driver’s taxi in Las Piedras after a night out with friends. She asked to be taken to a house in the Prado neighborhood of Montevideo.
The driver stopped at the destination and attacked the young woman, grabbing her by the neck. Surveillance footage from a nearby house captured the assault. The victim pretended to be unconscious, slumping her head to the side. She managed to escape and knock on the door of the house, which was previously owned by her father. The current owner helped her inside – she was disoriented and “out of it” – and paid the driver 2,000 pesos for the fare, as the victim was too distraught to do so. The owner then called the victim’s father, who came to pick her up.
Investigation and Trial
The taxi driver was charged on May 10, 2024, and initially held on 60-day preventive detention. An appeals court later reduced this period to end on June 13. Prosecutor Virginia Sigona had sought a 10-year sentence, but the parties reached a plea agreement, which included a guilty plea and a three-year prison term.
The court also imposed additional penalties. The driver will be barred from working with children, people with disabilities, or older adults for 10 years. He must also compensate the victim with 12 months’ worth of his income or 12 times the national minimum wage. Furthermore, he will be listed on the National Registry of Sex Offenders.
The court’s decision reflects the severity of the crime while considering the defendant’s lack of prior convictions. The case highlights the importance of surveillance footage in securing convictions and the need for swift action in cases of sexual assault.