Uber: former driver convicted of rape in New Delhi

A court in India has convicted a former driver with US-based private hire company Uber of raping a woman passenger.

Shiv Kumar Yadav was found guilty of rape, kidnapping and criminal intimidation. He faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Former Uber driver in India is found guilty of raping a passenger https://t.co/fIHptE6Alppic.twitter.com/pgFDXVubgf

— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 20, 2015

The woman passenger was raped and beaten after she hailed Yadav’s cab in New Delhi last December.

The attack sparked a nationwide debate in India about women’s safety.

2014 #Uber rape: Accused driver convicted

LISTEN:- https://t.co/llQgHqb1jL

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) October 20, 2015

The authorities in New Delhi banned Uber after the incident last year.

They said the company violated rules and failed to run proper background checks on its drivers.

Uber later resumed operation, having improved its safety procedures.

Lawyers for Yadav say they plan to appeal.