Overview
- Mohamed Abukar, 44, is charged with one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault after a 23-year-old woman alleged she was assaulted during a pre-dawn trip on January 25.
- Magistrate James FitzGerald refused bail and remanded Abukar in custody, with the next court date set for June 12.
- Investigators say CCTV tracked the car, including an 11-minute stop in Collingwood, cell data showed both phones moving together, and bank records placed the driver at a Thornbury 7-Eleven at 6:38am.
- Police allege Abukar had been circling The Peel Hotel and link him to two prior complaints from 2022 and 2023 involving patrons of the venue, with the 2023 matter reopened on Friday.
- DiDi told police the driver was not online at the time of the alleged trip, while the defence cites a clean record, family support and pending forensic analysis, noting the allegations will be contested.