Claudia Tan<\/strong> While on a Scoot flight from Okinawa to Singapore, an Indonesian man\u00a0molested a 17-year-old girl several times<\/a>.<\/p>\n For his actions, Ariel Lhudfiyan Muarifin, 20, was sentenced to 15 months\u2019 jail and three strokes of the cane on June 3, after he pleaded guilty to one charge of molestation.<\/p>\n The court heard that the\u00a0man, who was employed as a construction worker in Okinawa, was on a flight to Singapore on April 15. He had intended to return to Indonesia\u00a0via\u00a0Singapore.<\/p>\n The victim, who lives in Thailand, was on the same flight as she was returning home via Singapore. She was seated next to Ariel on the aircraft.<\/p>\n During the flight, the victim\u2019s left arm and leg was in contact with Ariel\u2019s body,\u00a0which\u00a0gave him the urge to touch\u00a0her. While\u00a0she\u00a0was asleep, Ariel touched her thigh, abdomen and hip. He also touched her breast.<\/p>\n The teen tried to move away from him, but Ariel continued to molest her, touching her on the back.<\/p>\n The girl, who had woken up, turned around to look at Ariel and continued to pretend to sleep.<\/p>\n Undeterred, Ariel\u00a0persisted\u00a0in molesting\u00a0her.<\/p>\n \u201cBy then, the victim stated that she felt extremely scared, violated, uncomfortable, trapped and helpless,\u201d said Deputy Public Prosecutor Gabriel Lee.<\/p>\n The girl later got up from her seat and told an air stewardess, who moved her to another seat.<\/p>\n Scoot made\u00a0a\u00a0police report, and Ariel was arrested on the same day.<\/p>\n DPP Lee sought a sentence of between 14 to 16 months and between three to five strokes of the cane for Ariel, citing that\u00a0he\u00a0had weaponised his proximity to the victim on the flight.<\/p>\n In mitigation, Ariel asked the judge for leniency through an interpreter.<\/p>\n For molestation, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined, caned or receive any combination of such punishments.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Straits Times<\/strong>
June 3, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n
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