Deportation arguments put forward on behalf of an Uber driver convicted of indecently assaulting a young woman were rejected by an Auckland judge, who said the seriousness of the offending outweighed immigration consequences.
Jaspreet Singh was sentenced in the Auckland District Court to five months’ home detention and ordered to pay $10,000 in emotional harm reparation after being found guilty on four counts of indecent assault following a retrial.
As per NZ Herald, Defence counsel argued Singh faced a “real risk” of deportation if convicted, warning this would have lasting consequences for his wife and child, whose visa arrangements were linked to his immigration status. However, the court was not persuaded.
Judge Brooke Gibson said the offending had caused significant harm to the victim, stating:
“Clearly what you did to her will be with her in terms of psychological damage for some time well into the future.”
It is reported that the judge ruled that accountability to the victim outweighed the immigration considerations raised by the defence.
The court heard the incident occurred in July 2024 after the victim, then 22, entered an Uber in Grey Lynn for a short trip to Mount Eden. She later told the court she agreed to move from the back seat to the front at the driver’s request, a decision that preceded unwanted physical contact.
In her victim impact statement, she said the experience left her feeling unsafe and emotionally unsettled. “I was okay, I was happy, I was in a good place. That was taken from me,” she told the court.
She also said she had blamed herself for moving into the front seat, but rejected the idea that it had any bearing on what followed.
“I know, rationally, that no seat in that car made what happened acceptable.”
The woman described ongoing psychological effects including panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, and a return to therapy after previously recovering from earlier trauma. She told NZME the incident also affected her ability to study and work, with anxiety triggered in everyday situations.
The case was delayed after an earlier trial resulted in a hung jury, before a second jury found Singh guilty earlier this year.
In sentencing, Judge Gibson noted Singh had no prior convictions and had been assessed as a low risk of reoffending, but said those factors did not outweigh the seriousness of the offending or its impact on the victim.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
