The Uber driver was left “scared” for his life
A 24-year-old woman who pulled down her mask and coughed on an Uber driver’s face earlier this month has been charged with assault and attempted robbery.
Footage released by the Uber driver, Subhakar Khadka, showed Arna Kimiai taking off her mask, coughing on the driver and attempting to steal his mobile phone. She can also be seen tearing Khadka’s mask from his face.
In an interview with Good Morning America (GMA) after the incident, Khadka said: “It was unbearable. It was threatening. I was scared of my life.”
Khadka said that one of Kimiai’s friends pepper sprayed inside his car through a window once they had left the vehicle.
Following Arna Kimiai’s heated row with the Uber driver on 7 March, police put out an arrest warrant for robbery, assault and battery, conspiracy and violation of the Covid-19 health and safety code.
Kimiai has been charged with attempted robbery, assault on a hired transportation driver, misdemeanour battery on a transportation driver and violation of a COVID-19 order, prosecutors told local news.
However KPIX 5 confirmed that prosecutors have since dropped the robbery and conspiracy charges against Kimiai.
Arna Kimiai was taken into custody at San Francisco County Jail on 13 March, after reportedly turning herself in to the police after fellow passenger Malaysia King was caught in Las Vegas.
Kimiai has now been released on bail, whilst she awaits her court date.
