KEY POINTS:
A taxi driver has gone on trial in Palmerston North District Court accused of kidnapping and sexually attacking a woman passenger.
Sharif Sadiq Ali, 37, has denied unlawful detention, indecent assault and sexual violation relating to the alleged attack on August 22, 2004.
The jury was told Ali, a Somali with New Zealand citizenship, picked up the 19-year-old woman from the taxi rank outside McDonald's on The Square about 1.45am.
The woman, who cannot be named, told Crown prosecutor Andru Isac she sat in the front seat during the short journey to her home.
The pair made small talk before things took a sleazy turn, she said.
"He started saying things that made me feel uncomfortable," she said.
"He said I was beautiful and that I had pretty eyes. He put his hand on my thigh."
She said she whacked Ali's hand away and didn't speak to him until the taxi approached her home.
When she directed him where to let her out, he said, "No, you're coming with me," and accelerated away.
Ali then put his hand down her singlet top and groped her breasts, she said.
"I tried opening the door, but it was locked. He grabbed me by the back of my shoulders and my neck - I was just in shock and trying to get away."
She said Ali then forced his hand down her pants and violated her.
The woman said she managed to unlock the taxi door and fled.
Ali's lawyer Bill Johnson pointed out to the woman there were significant differences in the picture she identified as Ali and the identity photo in his taxi.
"What I'm suggesting to you is you're simply mistaken in your identification."
"No, I'm not," she replied
When asked to identify her assailant she pointed to Ali and said: "That man there."
Then she broke down in tears.
In his opening address to the jury, Mr Isac said two days after the alleged attack, Ali applied for an emergency passport.
The court was told that Ali appeared in Palmerston North District Court on September 2, 2004 was granted bail, and fled the country the following day.
He was located by authorities and brought back to New Zealand to face the charges.
The trial was expected to last the rest of the week.
- NZPA
