Son Defends Cab Driver Father Accused Of Rape As Officials Ask For Potential Victims To Come Forward
HUNTINGTON BEACH (CBSLA.com) — As officials in Orange County look for women they say were preyed on by a taxi driver, the man's son says his father is innocent.
The Orange County District Attorney's Office is seeking the public's help identifying potential additional victims of a taxi cab driver accused of raping a woman in his cab before dropping her off at her home in November.
Samy Hakim, 58, of Anaheim is 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.
Officials said he picked up the unidentified victim standing outside a bar.
He made his first court appearance Friday.
If convicted, Hakim faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. Hakim is out of custody on $100,000 bail.
Meanwhile, Hakim's son spoke to CBS2's Michele Gile outside the Orange County Jail. He maintains his father has done nothing wrong.
"He didn't rape her," said Hakim's son, Peter Gayed.
Hakim's son says no sexual assault occurred and his father was just trying to get the woman to pay her fare.
"She said I don't have cash. He said give me your [credit] card and she said I don't have a card either," Gayed said.
Hakim did not enter a plea Friday.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact OCDA Supervising Investigator Mark Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794.
