An Orange County cabdriver accused of raping a woman in his cab before dropping her off at her home last year was arraigned in court Friday, but his family claims he is an innocent man.
Samy Hakim, 58, of Anaheim, was charged with one felony count of rape of an intoxicated person and one felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object of an intoxicated person, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Hakim is accused of picking up a 36-year-old woman from a Huntington Beach bar on Nov. 18, 2014 and raping her inside his vehicle before dropping her off and driving away, authorities said.
Hakim's son, Peter Gayed, said Friday that the alleged victim made up a story of rape after she refused to pay for the cab ride.
"He gave her a ride and once she got home he asked her how are you going to pay," said Gayed. Hakim's accuser said she didn't have cash or a credit card, said Gayed.
"She asked him to make a phone call and she got his phone and she ran away," he said.
According to Gayed, his father's DNA was taken one month after the incident. He also said his father was cleared by Huntington Beach police.
On July 9, Huntington Beach police arrested the suspect, who worked for Huntington Beach Yellow Cab.
Prosecutors believe there may be other potential victims.
Hakim is in custody on $100,000 bail and was ordered backed in court on Aug. 21. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in state prison.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Orange County District Attorney's Office Supervising Investigator Mark Gutierrez at 714-347-8794.
