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A taxi driver has been accused of abducting a drunk young lawyer for two hours and subjecting her to a sex attack in the back of his cab.
Davood Mazinani has appeared in the Auckland District Court charged with indecent assault, abduction for sexual connection and assault with intent to commit sexual violation over the alleged attack in mid-March.
The 50-year-old has been stood down by New Zealand Black Cabs.
According to police, the 24-year-old woman drank a "large amount" of alcohol at a friend's house in Remuera and an Auckland bar to celebrate her graduation from university.
They say her companions sent her and a male friend home in a taxi.
After dropping off the man, police say the woman fell asleep and Mazinani drove her to an unknown location, where it is alleged he stopped the taxi and climbed into the back seat and indecently assaulted her.
Mazinani entered no plea to the charges.
