Abdul Nabizada, a 36-year-old former British Army interpreter who became a taxi driver after arriving in Scotland from Afghanistan, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a teenage passenger. The sentence was handed down at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, following his conviction at a trial last month.
Attack on a passenger
The court heard that in November 2021, Nabizada failed to drive the 19-year-old passenger back to her home after a night out. Instead, he drove her to a secluded area of Edinburgh and attacked her.
Nabizada detained the victim against her will, seized her mobile phone, touched her body, and struggled with her before raping her.
Background and sentencing
Judge John Morris KC described the crime as a "crime of opportunism". Nabizada continued to deny his guilt. Defence lawyer David Taylor told the court that Nabizada came to Scotland after working for the US, Danish, and UK militaries, primarily as an interpreter, in Afghanistan.
The court was told he has indefinite leave to remain in the UK and had applied for British citizenship. Taylor said Nabizada is now concerned about the possibility of deportation in light of his conviction.
Judge Morris sentenced Nabizada to seven years in prison and placed him on the sex offenders register indefinitely. He was also ordered not to contact or approach the victim.
