Cairo criminal appeal court acquits Uber driver of attempted kidnap of Habiba Al-Shamaa

On August 22, 2024, a Cairo criminal appeal court acquitted an Uber driver of attempting to kidnap 24-year-old Habiba Al-Shamaa, who tragically died after jumping from his moving vehicle. However, the driver was sentenced to five years in prison for drug possession and use. This decision can be appealed, with the Court of Cassation holding final authority on such cases.
The new sentence is a reduction from the previous April ruling, which had sentenced the driver to 15 years in prison, a fine of LE 50,000, and revoked his driver’s license. Habiba, who suffered a brain hemorrhage from the fall, died on March 14 after spending three weeks in a coma.
The incident, which occurred on the Cairo-Suez Road, drew significant public outcry over safety concerns with ride-hailing services in Egypt. After Habiba’s death, her mother revealed that President Abdelfattah El-Sisi had personally followed her daughter’s condition.
The driver faced charges of attempted kidnapping, drug possession, and driving under the influence. An eyewitness reported that Habiba claimed the driver wanted to kidnap her before she lost consciousness. The driver fled the scene without checking on Habiba, which further damaged his public image. He later told police he left to avoid trouble.
Habiba’s mother filed a complaint accusing the driver of kidnapping and injuring her daughter. Although Uber had previously terminated the driver’s account due to customer complaints, he was found to have continued working under a false ID.