- By Supratik Das
- Sun, 07 Dec 2025 11:23 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
New Zealand Rape Case: An Indian-origin Uber driver, Satwinder Singh, has been sentenced to seven years and two months in prison for raping a 17-year-old passenger during what should have been a short ride across central Hamilton in February 2023. The sentencing was delivered by Judge Tini Clark at the Hamilton District Court, which found Singh guilty on all charges, including three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape.
Ride Taken Off-Route After GPS Switched Off
According to court documents cited by The New Zealand Herald, the teenager had booked an Uber from Speight’s Ale House shortly before midnight. The ride was supposed to take her only a few minutes to Hamilton East, where her friends were waiting for her arrival. Instead, Singh drove towards the location, then deliberately switched off the GPS tracking on his device, creating the illusion that the trip had ended despite the car continuing in another direction.
City cameras later captured Singh’s vehicle heading toward Peachgrove Road, far off the intended route. Inside the car, the incident escalated after Singh noticed the teen’s dress shift slightly. He asked her if she was wearing underwear and began rubbing her leg. She told him “no, can you not?” and later “get off me,” but he ignored her protests.
Seat Reclined, Doors Locked; Teen Assaulted
The court found that Singh locked the car doors, reached over the teen, and pushed her seat into a reclined position. He then kissed her, touched her breasts and climbed on top of her before raping her. The teenager later described the assault as “very brutal and very hurtful”. After the attack, Singh drove her to a friend’s house, leaving her in a distressed and shaken condition. She immediately contacted the police.
Judge Clark rejected Singh’s claims that the incident was consensual. He had told investigators that New Zealand women were “forward and promiscuous”, remarks the judge said reflected a “distorted and concerning” view toward women.
In her victim impact statement, the teen said the assault had shattered her confidence and sense of safety. She had been preparing to start university, but now avoids leaving home except when absolutely necessary. According to the judge, she feels exposed under the “male gaze” and describes the world outside her home as “unsafe and threatening”. The trauma, combined with the strain of court proceedings, has left her living with what she described as “an overwhelming rage inside”. “This was a life-changing event,” Judge Clark said, noting that the young woman’s future plans had been derailed.
Hardship Argument And Photo Suppression Rejected
At sentencing, Singh’s lawyer, Nadine Baier, argued for a hardship discount, saying her client would face additional challenges in prison because he is a Sikh Indian who had lived in New Zealand for only 11 years. Judge Clark declined the request, stating that Singh’s work as an Uber driver meant he interacted widely with the public and understood local social norms.
His counsel also sought to block publication of Singh’s photograph, citing concerns related to a family member’s mental health. The court refused to grant permanent suppression and allowed only an interim period for his lawyer to submit supporting documents.
The sentence brings closure to a case that has drawn attention in the Waikato region, where concerns over passenger safety and accountability for ride-share drivers have been rising.