A 23-year-old woman asserts that a Manhattan taxi driver sexually assaulted her during a late-night ride and was later allowed a significantly reduced charge without serving jail time. The alleged male driver, Mohammed Bellebia, was reported by the woman to have touched her leg and genitals, attempted to delete her phone evidence and resumed service after his brief suspension.
The victim, who moved out of New York City after the incident, criticized the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for its lack of communication and mishandling of the plea process. She claimed she was never consulted about the deal, only discovered the disposition months later following repeated inquiries, and now suffers from PTSD.
The cabbie pled guilty to a lesser violation — disorderly conduct — with a conditional discharge, meaning no jail time if he stays out of trouble. Meanwhile, the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission confirmed the driver’s license was temporarily suspended but later reinstated, and noted that no formal 311 complaint had been filed by the victim.