Ambulance driver rapes Covid-19 patient on way to hospital in Kerala

According to media reports, two women of a family tested positive for Covid-19, police said.

As per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the coronavirus infected patients are ferried to hospitals in ambulances.

The ambulance arrived at around midnight and one of the women was admitted to a local Covid-19 hospital, while the other woman was referred to another hospital, police added.

Police said the driver stopped the ambulance at a desolate place and raped the 22-year-old Covid-19 patient.

He also threatened her with dire consequences if she related the incident to anyone.

She told the doctors about her ordeal after being admitted to the hospital, after which medical tests were conducted and the crime was confirmed.

On investigation, police found that the accused ambulance driver (29) was a criminal, with several cases against him, including an attempt to murder, the media reports said.

The accused was arrested within hours of the crime, said reports, adding that the police have said that the crime was preplanned.

The Kerala health department has said the man was recruited on a temporary basis and they are investigating how he got the job despite a criminal background.

The health authorities have given strict instructions that every ambulance should have at least two employees and special care should be taken in case of women patients.

The accused has been put under quarantine and would be produced before a court through virtual mode, police said, adding that they have collected all the evidence against him and would fast track the case to ensure stringent punishment for the heinous crime.