Police in Lethbridge, Alberta, have laid a sexual assault charge against a 27-year-old man who was working as a ride-share driver at the time of the alleged incident.
Alleged Assault After Early Morning Ride
The investigation began on November 9, after a 20-year-old woman reported a sexual assault to authorities at Chinook Regional Hospital. According to police, the woman had booked a ride home in the early morning hours using the UberX app.
She was picked up from a business on the city's south side and initially driven to a downtown location for a brief stop. However, the driver then allegedly took her to a secluded spot in the river valley, where the sexual assault occurred, before finally driving her to her residence.
Investigation Leads to Arrest Warrant and Seizure
Lethbridge police said their investigation confirmed the driver's identity. They also discovered that the detour to the river valley and the final trip to the woman's home were not logged in the ride-share app.
When officers went to arrest the suspect at his home, they found he had left the country. Police then issued a warrant for his arrest and seized his vehicle.
Suspect Detained at Border, Released on Bail
The man, identified as 27-year-old Lethbridge resident Manvir Singh, returned to Canada on December 27. The Canada Border Services Agency detained him upon his arrival at Vancouver International Airport, and he was later transported back to Alberta to face the charge.
Following a bail hearing on Monday, Singh was released from custody under strict conditions. These include:
- Having no contact with the alleged victim.
- Surrendering his passport.
- Remaining within the province of Alberta.
Manvir Singh is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Friday. The case has raised serious concerns about passenger safety within the ride-share industry.
