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SINGAPORE: A man was charged in Australia on Tuesday (Apr 14) with sexually assaulting a female passenger on board a Scoot flight from Singapore to Perth on Monday.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The woman sought help from airline staff members and was later moved to another seat, the police said in the statement.<\/p>\n
Airline staff members monitored the man for the remainder of the flight and alerted the AFP.<\/p>\n
AFP officers later escorted the man from the aircraft for questioning when the flight landed at Perth Airport.<\/p>\n
The AFP and WA Police Sex Assault Squad are jointly investigating the alleged incident.<\/p>\n
In response to CNA’s queries, Scoot said on Wednesday it is aware of an incident that occurred on board flight TR16.<\/p>\n
“The passenger involved was handed over to the relevant authorities upon arrival in Perth,” a Scoot spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
The man was charged under Australian law with one count of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of an act of indecency without consent.<\/p>\n
If convicted of sexual intercourse without consent, he faces a jail term of up to 12 years.<\/p>\n
The offence of an act of indecency without consent carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.\u00a0<\/p>\n
AFP Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal said the force has zero tolerance for criminal behaviour on aircraft or within Australian airports.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery passenger has the right to feel safe when travelling, especially when confined in an aircraft close to other passengers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also encouraged anyone subjected to unwanted contact to alert the authorities as soon as it was safely possible to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo act of indecency on an aircraft or at an airport is appropriate, and any travellers who break the law will be dealt with swiftly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n