The recent tragedy surrounding the death of Habiba al-Shamaa has sparked a wave of questions and searches online. This 23-year-old woman jumped from an Uber car on the Suez road in Cairo three weeks ago, fearing for her life due to the suspicious behavior of her driver.
The driver is currently in preventive detention, his custody having been extended for the second consecutive time by the public prosecutor, pending the results of the investigation.
The suspect claimed the young woman jumped out of the vehicle after he simply sprayed perfume on her clothes, raising questions about the seriousness of the charges that will be brought against him.
The lawyer for Shamaa’s family, Mohamed Amin, said the prosecution plans to prosecute the suspect for premeditated murder and kidnapping, but not for attempt. He added that a new hearing of the suspect is planned after the victim’s funeral.
The lawyer also indicated that he will submit a request to the prosecutor’s office to change the classification of the case and the description of the crime.
Evidence of the suspect’s intention to kidnap and harm the victim was put forward by the only witness to the incident during the hearings. This witness reported that Shamaa, before falling into a coma, told him: “Uber wants to kidnap me.” He added that police investigations revealed that the accused intended to harass the young woman, which prompted her to jump from the moving car.
The suspect, who has a prior criminal history and is listed as dangerous, was also confirmed to have consumed narcotic substances.
However, the defendant’s lawyer, Amr Abdel-Moneim, argued that his client should be prosecuted for manslaughter and not murder if it is proven that the case was improperly recorded and described.
This tragic case raises many questions about the safety of passengers using online transport services, and the debate on the measures to be taken to guarantee their protection is more relevant than ever.