Man charged with sexual assault granted permission to work in London provided £6,000 cash surety is found

A man charged with sexual assault on a female who he gave a lift to has been granted permission to go to London to work on condition he can provide a cash surety of £6,000.

Ali Raza (31) of Aberfoyle Terrace in Derry appeared at the local Magistrate's Court today seeking his bail to be varied to allow him to go to London to work.

Police objected to the application and an officer said that the alleged offences occurred on December 23 last when the woman was in the city centre. 

He said she got into a vehicle driven by a man with an Asian accent. 

The woman said she felt they were driven around 'for a prolonged period of time'.

The court heard that the woman claimed that the driver had grabbed her hand and tried to get her to touch him. 

She also alleged he tried to touch her. 

The woman said she had been asked to be allowed out of the vehicle but the doors were locked. 

Eventually the woman said she was allowed to leave the vehicle but claimed the defendant followed her for a period.

The woman had made several phone calls to her husband during the incident and the court heard it had been taken for examination. 

CCTV was examined and the officer said that Raza was observed driving around the city centre before stopping outside the Holiday Inn and speaking to a woman who got into his vehicle. 

The court heard that Raza had left the jurisdiction three days later but the officer said that had always been the intention. 

The officer said that Raza was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in April and returned here. 

When being interviewed he told police about meeting a woman in a bar and driving her to a location but police realised that he was referring to a different woman. 

As regards the incident under investigation Raza said he had seen her crying and offered to help her. 

He said she could not say where she lived so he had driven around. 

Raza denied trying to touch the woman. 

Police objected to the bail variation because they could not monitor the defendant in London and also to allow him to travel he would have to be given his passport and could flee the jurisdiction. 

Defence solicitor Jack Quigley said Raza had no record in this jurisdiction. 

He said he had come here from Pakistan on a student visa and then acquired a work visa. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said that if Raza was given his passport he could travel anywhere in the world. 

He said there was 'a degree of risk' but added that these were still only allegations against Raza.

He said he would consider granting the application if a cash surety of £6,000 could be found.

The case was adjourned until May 20 to see if that surety could be found.