A driver of a ride-hailing service was detained by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) on suspicion of kidnapping in Lisbon. The victim, a 32-year-old woman, managed to escape after exiting the moving car on the A5 Highway.
In a statement sent to newsrooms on Wednesday, authorities indicated that the crime occurred on May 3, when the victim “hired a ride-hailing service after a night out in the Cais do Sodré area.”
“During part of the journey, the victim was accompanied by a friend; the events transpired when he reached his destination, leaving her alone with the driver,” the statement said.
Once the woman’s friend left the vehicle, the suspect “altered the contracted route” and “touched the woman’s body,” against her will.
The woman experienced a panic attack and “ended up exiting the moving car on the A5, preventing the suspect from continuing his criminal conduct.”
After a preliminary court hearing, the suspect was subjected to non-custodial coercive measures.
[Updated at 13:12]
