Uber Driver Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Female Passenger in Back Seat of His Car
Gharzwan Alani, formerly of Palatine, has been found guilty of sexually abusing a female passenger in the backseat of the Uber he was operating.
“LATE LAST NIGHT, A JURY FOUND THAT MR. ALANI, AN UBER DRIVER, SEXUALLY ABUSED AN INNOCENT WOMAN WHO HAD ENTRUSTED HIM TO GET HER HOME SAFELY,” BERLIN SAID. “I THANK THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE FOR HER STRENGTH AND COURAGE IN BRINGING THIS MATTER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FOR FACING HER ATTACKER IN OPEN COURT.”
WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that a jury has found Uber driver Ghazwan Alani, 35 (d.o.b. 10/26/1987), formerly of Palatine, guilty of sexually abusing a twenty-three-year-old female passenger upon arrival at her destination. The jury returned their verdict at approximately 9 p.m. last night following a three-day-long trial and after approximately three hours of deliberations. On September 2, 2020, Alani appeared at a bond hearing where bond was set at $100,000 with 10% to apply. He posted the necessary 10%, or $10,000, later that day and was released from custody. In all, the jury found Alani guilty of one count of Attempt Criminal Sexual Assault (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Criminal Sexual Abuse, a Class 4 Felony. The trial was in front of Judge Mia McPherson.
On May 19, 2020, the victim arranged for an Uber ride to bring her to a location in Elmhurst. At approximately 1:19 a.m., the woman arrived at her location in an Uber driven by Alani. Upon arrival, Alani exited the vehicle, opened the rear driver’s side door, entered the back seat of the vehicle and sexually abused the woman. The victim was able to escape out of the rear passenger’s side door after kicking Alani. She then ran from the vehicle and entered her destination. Later that morning the woman contacted the Elmhurst Police Department. An investigation led by the Elmhurst Police Department, which included extensive forensic and DNA analysis, led to Alani who was taken into custody on September 1, 2020, from his home in Palatine.
“Late last night, a jury found that Mr. Alani, an Uber driver, sexually abused an innocent woman who had entrusted him to get her home safely,” Berlin said. “I thank the victim in this case for her strength and courage in bringing this matter to law enforcement and for facing her attacker in open court. I thank Judge McPherson for ensuring a fair trial for both sides as well as the jury for their service. Their guilty finding ensures that Mr. Alani will be held responsible for this unprovoked attack. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Grace Barsanti and Cathy Nusgart for their work in holding this defendant responsible for his actions and for their continued efforts in protecting innocent women from sexual predators such as Mr. Alani.”
Alani’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 3, 2023, for return of the Pre-sentence Report. He faces a penalty of up to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
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