Anil Elavithungal Thomas was accused of raping and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl whom he picked up from a grocery store before dropping her off at a friend’s place at Manly West in July 2017.
A case was registered against him after the girl complained of rape and sexual assault. He was charged with five counts of sexual assault, two of rape and one of attempted rape.
The 39-year-old was then committed to stand trial by the Brisbane Magistrates Court in June 2018.
The trial, which lasted for three days, began on February 25 this year at the Brisbane District Court with the Uber driver pleading not guilty to the charges on the very first day of the trial. 
According to the Courier Mail, the prosecution alleged that the teenage girl, a Year 12 student who boarded his Uber sat in the front seat before Anil began a conversation with her.
Anil Elavithungal Thomas, leaves the Brisbane Magistrates Court in Brisbane Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Source: AAP
After switching off the Uber account the paper reports that the prosecution alleged he diverted the route and pulled over the car in a secluded area and sexually assaulted and raped her.
A 12-member jury retired on Wednesday evening and delivered their unanimous decision of finding him not guilty to the charges on Thursday morning.
He was acquitted him of all eight charges laid against him. 
Source: AAP
