Uber is one of the most popular car-hailing apps in China, but is now gaining a poor reputation. (Photo : Reuters )
Sentiments against Uber in China are growing as Chinese police arrested an Uber driver for allegedly robbing and molesting a female passenger at knifepoint, causing doubts about the safety of the popular, loosely regulated cars for hire.
The assault happened in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, several weeks ago at around 2 a.m. The victim was a 42-year-old female passenger who had hailed an Uber car.
According to the story, the driver pulled a knife on the woman after stopping in a tunnel. He then robbed her of more than 5,000 yuan ($780) in cash.
He then drove her to the outskirts of town, molested her and took pictures. He threatened to release the pictures to the public if she were to report the incident to the police.
The attack happened on Aug. 9, and the woman waited two weeks before she reported it. The suspect was detained two days later.
On Wednesday, he was arrested for robbery and forcible molestation of a woman.
Uber has not commented on the incident.
The ride-hailing app service came under scrutiny in China after a driver was detained in June for sexually assaulting a drunk female passenger.
Similar incidents elsewhere have sparked public backlash against online-car-hailing services, as well as cause regulators to tighten their grip.
In New Delhi, the government banned Uber in December after a woman accused an Uber driver of rape. However, a court later overturned the ban, recommending that the state more strictly regulate app-based taxi companies instead.
Aside from Uber, other companies in China's ride-hailing market include Didi Kuaidi, backed by Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, as well as smaller companies like Yidao Yongche.
The Chengdu attack has caused outrage online.
"I don't dare take those cars!!!! And fortunately I'd never take a car at night," said one Sina Weibo user.
"You can never know who's behind the mask in hire cars," said another.
