Yellow cab driver faces assault charges after allegedly beating passenger

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A New York yellow cab driver is facing assault charges after he allegedly beat his passenger after a disagreement over the route.

"Today was the first day that I'm actually able to move," said Jahmila Carter, the victim.

Easier said than done for Jahmila Carter, she's still in obvious agony three days after she says cab driver Moussa Kaba slammed her to the ground and kicked her over and over leaving her with stitches, a concussion, and she says, a very fuzzy memory of what sparked it all.

"I can't recall, but a lot of times he kicked me. There was one point where I was on, like bear hugging his foot, and he's still kicking and my body's going up with his foot," Carter said.

The alleged assault happened early Monday morning in front of a TriBeCa barbershop, as Carter headed home to the Lower East Side after a night out with friends.

Police sources say driver and passenger started fighting over the route Kaba was taking, and both wound up outside the cab.

She claims he dragged her into a construction walkway and left her bleeding on the sidewalk.

"I watched him get back in the cab and just go," Carter said.

She'd left her phone on the seat. Police used it to track the taxi down, eventually charging Kaba with assault.

But on the phone tonight, he told Eyewitness News he's innocent. Though his lawyer told him not to talk about what did happen, he said, "Whatever she says, it's totally made up. I know I'll be cleared of this matter. I've never hurt anybody in 13 years driving a cab, never hurt anybody in any kind of way."

"He's 6'1" 210 pounds and I'm proud of myself. I have all my teeth still and I feel like I did my job because it could have been worse," Carter said.