A Fijian man accused of raping a Virgin Australia flight attendant on New Year’s Day has been denied bail, with the case moved to the high court. Ilaisa Tanoa Degei, 24, appeared before magistrate Mareta Tikoisuva in Nadi on Monday, charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of rape.
The court heard that Degei allegedly sexually assaulted and digitally raped the 21-year-old crew member from Melbourne in the early hours of 1 January. The severity of the charges led to the case being upgraded to the high court in Lautoka, with a hearing scheduled for 20 January. Degei remains in custody and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The alleged assault occurred after crew members had celebrated the new year at Bar One nightclub in Nadi’s Martintar district. The woman became separated from her colleagues and was attempting to return to her hotel when the attack took place. In a separate incident, another Virgin crew member suffered facial injuries during a violent robbery.
Bar One’s management clarified that the incident did not occur inside or in the immediate vicinity of the club, expressing dismay at negative publicity. Fiji’s deputy prime minister and tourism minister, Viliame Gavoka, described the events as “regrettable” and extended thoughts to the victims.
The allegations come as a blow to Fiji’s tourism-dependent economy, which relies heavily on Australian visitors. In December, seven people, including four Australians, were hospitalised after consuming cocktails at a five-star resort, though toxicology tests found no methanol or illicit substances.
