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Satwinder Singh, an Indian-origin Uber driver in New Zealand, was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison on December 6, 2025, for raping a teenage passenger in Hamilton. The 2023 incident unfolded during a late-night short ride from Speight’s Ale House to Hamilton East.The attack began as the teenager’s dress shifted, prompting Singh to ask if she was wearing underwear. Despite her firm rejections—”No, can you not?” and “Get off me”—he persisted with unwanted touching. He disconnected the GPS to falsely indicate trip completion, locked the doors, reclined her seat, kissed her, groped her breasts, and climbed on top for a “very rough and very hurtful” rape, as described by the victim. He later dropped her at a friend’s home in distress. Uber’s cameras captured the deviated route, aiding the investigation.Singh claimed to police the encounter was consensual and stereotyped New Zealand women as “forward and promiscuous.”
The court rejected his defense, convicting him of rape. His counsel requested a sentencing discount for cultural hardship as a Sikh Indian in New Zealand for only 11 years, arguing prison would impose unique challenges. Judge Simone Freeman declined, noting Singh’s extensive public interactions as an Uber driver warranted no leniency.The verdict profoundly impacted the victim, leaving her fearful of the outside world, which now feels “unsafe and threatening,” and fueling “an overwhelming rage” exacerbated by the trial. The case also saw a failed bid to suppress Singh’s photo due to a relative’s mental health issues, underscoring broader concerns over passenger protections in rideshare services.
