"Asked to 'Please Wear a Mask'... Asian Taxi Driver Assaulted by US Passenger"

Ana Kimiai (right back row) is coughing in an Uber vehicle driven by Soophaka Kadka (right front row) in San Francisco, USA. Photo by Dion Lim's Twitter account.

[Asia Economy Reporter Nana] A 42-second video capturing passengers causing a disturbance, coughing, and forcibly removing masks inside a taxi 'Uber' in San Francisco, USA, has sparked controversy after being posted on social media. The female passenger featured in the video was arrested by the police after mocking and causing a disturbance by coughing at an Asian driver who asked her to wear a mask.

According to local media on the 12th (local time), the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) announced that on the 11th, they arrested Mulleyazer King (24) in Las Vegas on charges including assault and battery, assault with corrosive chemicals, conspiracy, and violation of health safety regulations.

On the 7th, three female passengers, including King, boarded an Uber vehicle driven by Subhaka Kardka (32), a Nepalese man, in San Francisco. Seeing that one of the three passengers was not wearing a mask, Kardka asked them to wear masks and stopped the car at a nearby gas station so they could buy masks. In response, they began to hurl racist slurs and mockery at him.

One of the passengers took off her mask and coughed several times toward Kardka, saying, "I have COVID-19." Another passenger, Kimiai (24), tried to snatch Kardka’s phone and pulled off his mask. She then coughed at him multiple times. Unable to tolerate it any longer, Kardka asked the passengers to get out of the car. After they got out, King sprayed pepper spray at Kardka through the half-open passenger window. Kardka said he had to get out of the car because he was suffocating.

Kardka, who came to the United States seven years ago and has been working hard to support his family in Nepal, said, "I am sure I was treated this way because of my skin color." He lamented, "Violent crimes against Asian Americans are increasing. It is disgusting that people think it is okay to treat others like that."

According to the police, another passenger, Kimiai, who has not yet been arrested, has expressed through her lawyer her intention to soon appear before the police. The identity of the other passenger who did not participate in the assault and mockery has not been disclosed. The San Francisco Police stated, "The behavior captured in this video shows a callous disregard for the safety and well-being of essential service workers," and added, "We take this conduct very seriously and promise to ensure that justice is served."

Meanwhile, Uber announced that it has banned the three passengers involved in this incident from using Uber services.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.