Ride-hailing app inDrive is under risk of being scrapped in Laos after recent reports of sexual assaults by drivers that raised concerns over a lack of safety provisions for users, state media say.
A 15-year-old girl reported to police that she was sexually assaulted by an inDrive operator after she booked a journey on Saturday in the capital, Vientiane, from the bus terminal to her workplace.
Police in Vientiane told RFA that they are aware of the complaint. It was unclear if the driver has been contacted or brought in for questioning.
In March, another InDrive driver was accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger and forcing her to watch a sexually explicit video on his phone.
InDrive does not have a physical presence in Laos although it has become popular with both drivers and passengers in the Southeast Asian nation. The company was founded in Russia and is now incorporated in California.
Last month, the Lao Department of Public Works and Transport requested that the government take action to close the ride-share app, alleging it lacks certification in Laos, making its operations illegal.
