MBTA Driver Held on Alleged Attack of Woman Passenger on Bus
BOSTON, April 28, 2021— A MBTA contract bus driver was arraigned in the East Boston Division of the Boston Municipal Court yesterday on charges of kidnapping, assault to rape, and indecent assault and battery on a woman who was a passenger on the bus he was operating, District Attorney Rachael Rollins announced.
The woman was on board the #713 bus from Orient Heights to Winthrop on the evening of April 24, 2021 when the alleged assault occurred and was captured by the surveillance system on board.
Assistant District Attorney Amelia Singh told Judge John E. McDonald, Jr., that ALI ENNAB, 45, of Revere, attacked the woman after she had missed her stop and was the only remaining person on the bus. The Commonwealth asked for $25,000 bail and several conditions including surrender of his passport, remain in Massachusetts, stay away from the victim, not working as a bus driver or any transportation company for hire, and submitting to GPS tracking. The judge set bail at $10,000 cash and granted all requested conditions besides the requirement to stay in Massachusetts and instead required home confinement. The Commonwealth also filed a motion to revoke bail on an assault and battery case out of Malden, which was allowed.
The Commonwealth alleges that the victim, who does not speak English, was picked up from Orient Heights on April 24th at around 7:20 PM. She was talking on her phone and missed her stop and then used a translator app to ask the driver to take her back to Orient Heights. The bus driver began speaking to her and identified himself as Ali, but he did not return to Orient Heights. Instead, he stopped the bus at a stop near the beach in Winthrop, and the victim began to feel nervous because she was the only passenger.
Singh said the defendant shut the bus off, got up and sat next to the victim and put his arm around her. He then pulled her closer to him and kissed her cheek. The defendant told the woman he could get her a green card. She responded that she has a husband and doesn’t need a green card, then again asked him to open the doors because she wanted to get off the bus. He asked for her number and she called her phone from his phone so that his number would be there in case something happened to her. He then began eating his dinner and refused to open the doors to let her off the bus.
After eating, he started the bus. The victim started walking toward the doors and the driver turned the bus off again. She asked him to open the door and he lunged at her, ripping her mask off and kissing her face. He groped her body and put his hand down her pants. She begged him to stop and he continued assaulting her. She recorded audio of the assault on her phone. In the audio, the victim can be heard in Spanish begging the driver to stop and open the door. He responds, “Me, I’m boyfriend for you, it’s okay.” She continues to tell him no and to open the door. When an unidentified woman walked near the bus, she apparently caused Ennab to open the door allowing the victim to leave.
“To state the obvious: A woman should be able to ride a public bus without fear of kidnap and sexual assault. Women, just like all people, have the right to not be harassed, violated, harmed, or objectified,’’ said District Attorney Rachael Rollins.
“As I have said, fathers need to start speaking to their sons, and men need to tell their brothers, friends and colleagues about a new vision of masculinity where men are working to end violence against women and girls,” District Attorney Rollins said. “The allegations outlined in this case are deeply disturbing.”
Sexual assault can happen to anyone. While the victims of any crime are asked to call 911 in an emergency, survivors of sexual violence can also call their local rape crisis center for free and confidential services and to discuss their options. Support is available for all survivors of sexual violence, regardless of whether they wish to take part in a criminal prosecution. Services by city and town can be found at https://www.janedoe.org/find_help/
In Suffolk County, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers a free and confidential 24-hour hotline at 800-841-8371. The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center provides medical accompaniment and many other free services to victims of rape and sexual assault. Suffolk victim-witness advocates can assist in referrals to BARCC and a wide array of non-profit service providers who can offer additional support and services.
Mr. Ennab, who is employed by Paul Revere Transportation LLC as a contract driver for the MBTA, was represented at arraignment by attorney Ross Schreiber. He returns to court May 25, 2021.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.