SINGAPORE: A man was charged on Tuesday (Apr 14) with sexually assaulting a female passenger on board a flight from Singapore to Perth on Monday.
The 52-year-old Indian national committed "non-consensual sexual acts" on a woman he was seated next to during the flight, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Western Australia Police Force said in a joint statement on Monday.
Australian media, including the West Australian newspaper and news.com.au website, reported that the incident occurred on Scoot Airlines flight TR16.
The woman sought help from airline staff members and was later moved to another seat, the police said in the statement.
Airline staff members monitored the man for the remainder of the flight and alerted the AFP.
AFP officers later escorted the man from the aircraft for questioning when the flight landed at Perth Airport.
The AFP and WA Police Sex Assault Squad are jointly investigating the alleged incident.
The man was charged under Australian law
If convicted of sexual intercourse without consent, he faces a jail term of up to 12 years.
The offence of an act of indecency without consent carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.
AFP Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal said the force has zero tolerance for criminal behaviour on aircraft or within Australian airports.
“Every passenger has the right to feel safe when travelling, especially when confined in an aircraft close to other passengers,” he said.
He also encouraged anyone subjected to unwanted contact to alert the authorities as soon as it was safely possible to do so.
“No act of indecency on an aircraft or at an airport is appropriate, and any travellers who break the law will be dealt with swiftly.”
CNA has contacted Scoot for more information.
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The 52-year-old Indian national committed "non-consensual sexual acts" on a woman he was seated next to during the flight, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Western Australia Police Force said in a joint statement on Monday.
Australian media, including the West Australian newspaper and news.com.au website, reported that the incident occurred on Scoot Airlines flight TR16.
The woman sought help from airline staff members and was later moved to another seat, the police said in the statement.
Airline staff members monitored the man for the remainder of the flight and alerted the AFP.
AFP officers later escorted the man from the aircraft for questioning when the flight landed at Perth Airport.
The AFP and WA Police Sex Assault Squad are jointly investigating the alleged incident.
The man was charged under Australian law
If convicted of sexual intercourse without consent, he faces a jail term of up to 12 years.
The offence of an act of indecency without consent carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.
AFP Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal said the force has zero tolerance for criminal behaviour on aircraft or within Australian airports.
“Every passenger has the right to feel safe when travelling, especially when confined in an aircraft close to other passengers,” he said.
He also encouraged anyone subjected to unwanted contact to alert the authorities as soon as it was safely possible to do so.
“No act of indecency on an aircraft or at an airport is appropriate, and any travellers who break the law will be dealt with swiftly.”
CNA has contacted Scoot for more information.
Continue reading...