Palatine cabdriver charged with abusing a passenger

A Palatine cabdriver who prosecutors say sexually abused female passenger he picked up outside a suburban nightclub early Saturday had his bail set at $50,000 Monday in Rolling Meadows.

Police charged Mohammed N. Choudry, 47, with criminal sexual abuse, a felony punishable by one to three years in prison. Probation is also available.

Choudry, of the 1000 block of N. Sterling Ave., is accused of picking the woman up outside Durty Nellie’s in Palatine early Saturday morning, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Lesley Gool. After Choudry told the woman he did not accept credit cards, the woman asked to be driven to a Chase Bank ATM, where she withdrew $40 for his fare, Gool said.

The woman told police she fell asleep and awoke to find the defendant in the back seat with his hands on her, Gool said. She gave the defendant $20, exited the cab and contacted police, Gool said. Choudry’s criminal background includes a 1994 misdemeanor conviction for assault in Virginia. His next court date is March 1.