An Uber driver from Lansdale will head to trial in Chester County next month, on rape charges stemming from an incident involving an unconscious female passenger in February 2018.
Ahmed Elgaafary, a 26-year-old Egyptian national, is facing felony charges of raping an unconscious victim, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with an unconscious victim, and sexual assault, as well as misdemeanor charges of indecent assault, in connection with an eight-month-long investigation that occurred in 2018.
Elgaafary’s criminal trial will begin on May 29 at 9 a.m. at the Chester County Courthouse.
Authorities allege that at 2:20 a.m. on Feb. 10, 2018, Elgaafary picked up a female victim at Valley Forge Casino, and had sex with her after she became unconscious on the ride home. The victim woke up only wearing a bra, with bruises on her legs and forehead, and dirt under her fingernails. When the victim checked her Uber app, she noticed that what should have been a 15 minute ride to her home from the casino actually lasted almost an hour, according to reports.
When interviewed by police, Elgaafary stated that he picked up the victim as a passenger, but denied having any sexual contact with her. DNA testing of a sample provided by Elgaafary would later match the sperm found in the victim’s sexual assault evidence collection kit, according to reports.
Elgaafary was arrested on Oct. 31, 2018, and was initially remanded to the Chester County Correctional Facility after failing to post $75,000 cash bail, but records indicate that he received a bail reduction to $50,000 cash and was released on Nov. 21, 2018. As a condition of his bail, Elgaafary was ordered to surrender his passports, check-in weekly with the Chester County Pre-trial Services Department and submit to electronic home monitoring, according to reports.
The case is currently listed as “awaiting trial,” according to court records. A clerk with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office informed North Penn Now that the case is still undergoing pre-trial hearings, and it could be several months until it proceeds to trial.
Elgaafary is represented by defense attorney Jonathan Altman, of West Chester.
(Editor's note: All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. Should the defendant choose to issue a public statement, or is later found not guilty or has the charges dropped, we will update this article accordingly.)
See also:
Lansdale Uber Driver Awaiting Trial On Rape Charges
Uber Driver From Lansdale Allegedly Raped Unconscious Passenger
Awaiting Court On Drug Charges, Suspect Gets DUI, Spits In Cops’ Face: Police
Former Deputy Sheriff Indicted on Federal Child Porn Charges
Lansdale Woman Pleads Guilty to Stabbing Husband
