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A man was charged in Australia on April 14 with sexually assaulting another passenger on board a Scoot flight bound for Perth from Singapore, according to media reports. <\/p>\n
In a statement on its website, the Australian Federal Police said the 52-year-old man committed \u201cnon-consensual sexual acts\u201d on a woman seated next to him during the April 13 flight.<\/p>\n
She then sought help from airline staff, and was moved to another seat.<\/p>\n
Airline staff\u202fmonitored\u202fthe man for the\u202fremainder\u202fof the flight and alerted the Australian Federal Police. He was escorted off the plane for questioning after it touched down at Perth Airport.<\/p>\n
Australian news site News.com.au said in a photo caption that the incident happened on Scoot Flight TR16.<\/p>\n
The man is charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of an act of indecency without consent.<\/p>\n
The offence of sexual intercourse without consent carries a maximum penalty of 12 years behind bars, while indecency\u202fwithout consent carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.<\/p>\n
Australian Federal Police\u202fActing Superintendent Peter\u202fBrindal\u202fsaid\u202fthe force has zero tolerance for criminal behaviour on\u202faircraft\u202for within Australian airports. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery passenger has the\u202fright to feel safe when travelling,\u202fespecially when\u202fconfined in\u202fan aircraft\u202fclose to other passengers,\u201d\u202fhe said.<\/p>\n
He urged anyone subjected to unwanted contact to alert the authorities \u2013 airline staff, the police or airport security \u2013 as soon as it is safely possible to do so. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo act of\u202findecency on an aircraft\u202for at an airport\u202fis\u202fappropriate,\u202fand any travellers who break the law will be dealt with swiftly.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Straits Times has contacted Scoot for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n