Uber driver convicted of sex attack on passenger
An Uber driver and former Palatine resident was found guilty Wednesday of sexually attacking a passenger in Elmhurst.
A DuPage County jury convicted Ghazwan Alani, 35, of one count of attempted criminal sexual assault and one count of criminal sexual abuse.
Authorities alleged that on May 19, 2020, a 23-year-old woman arranged for an Uber ride to take her to a location in Elmhurst. They arrived at 1:19 a.m. Alani then entered the back seat of the vehicle, held the woman down and sexually abused her. She escaped by kicking him.
Alani was arrested Sept. 1, 2020, at his home in Palatine.
Alani is due back in court on Aug. 3 for a presentence report. He could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
He was free on bond while awaiting trial but was taken in to custody after the verdict Wednesday night.