The woman who coughed on a San Francisco Uber driver in a video that has since gone viral has been charged with two felonies and additional misdemeanors, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Arna Kimiai, 24, who was also filmed shouting racial slurs and pulling off the mask of Uber driver Subhakar Khadka last week, is facing one felony charge of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury against a transit operator.
Arna Kimiai,was charged on multiple counts on Wednesday, March 17, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office told local media. She could face up to 16 years in prison after what may have been a racially charged attack on a South Asian Uber driver
The other charge is for first-degree attempted robbery on a transit operator. In addition, Kimiai was also charged with a misdemeanor count of battery on a transportation driver and one count for contravention of a COVID-19 health order, CBS Bay Area reported. If convicted on all the above counts, Kimiai could face $3,000 in fines with up to 16 years in state prison.
The shocking incident came to light on March 7 when Subhakar Khadka, a 32-year-old driver, was assailed by a woman who along with two others hailed his vehicle. Khadka was coughed upon and assaulted by three women who also racially abused him after he denied them service for not wearing facemasks.The attack, captured on Khadka’s car camera.
The Uber driver also said that another woman then pepper-sprayed inside the car and towards him after leaving the vehicle. Meanwhile, the San Francisco police affirmed that they are probing the matter and asking for help in identifying the women riders. Meanwhile, Uber has said it has suspended the account of the woman who hailed the ride.Read complete news –
The Uber driver, who moved to the US from Nepal eight years ago to support his family, said, “You guys are animals to treat other human beings like this,She pepper-sprayed inside my car, from the passenger window that was open a little bit, that was the only window open in my car,” Khadka added.
“If I was another complexion, I would not have gotten that treatment from them. The moment I opened my mouth to speak, they realised I’m not among one of them, so it’s easy for them to intimidate me,” he told the channel“Since you were born and raised here in the United States, don’t think the other person is less human,” Khadka told the women.
Rs.45 Lakh Raised to help Uber Driver who was assaulted by Woman in California –
Meanwhile, Uber said in a statement that the “behaviour seen in the video is appalling. The rider no longer has access to Uber.” The cab aggregator also gave Khadka $120 in cleaning funds.
