Former Military Translator Jailed for Raping Taxi Passenger in Edinburgh

Abdul Nabizada, a 36-year-old former military translator turned taxi driver, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday for raping a teenage passenger in Edinburgh. The sentence was handed down at the High Court in Edinburgh following his conviction last month for the attack, which occurred on November 13, 2021.

The court heard that Nabizada, who had been working as a private hire taxi driver, picked up the 19-year-old victim after a night out with friends. Instead of taking her home, he drove her to a secluded area in the Joppa suburb of the city. There, he detained her against her will, seized her mobile phone, and subjected her to a serious sexual assault. The victim testified that she repeatedly asked him to stop before managing to flee the vehicle and hide in nearby bushes, after which she contacted friends for help.

Judge John Morris KC described the crime as an appalling betrayal of trust, noting that Nabizada was in a position of responsibility as the driver taking a vulnerable, intoxicated young woman home. The judge stated that the offence was extremely serious and had long-lasting consequences for the victim. In addition to the prison term, Nabizada was placed...