Australian police have charged a 52-year-old Indian national with sexually assaulting a woman on a Scoot Airlines flight from Singapore to Perth. The alleged incident occurred on Monday, with the suspect accused of committing “non-consensual sexual acts” against the woman seated next to him.
The victim sought help from cabin crew and was moved to another seat. Scoot staff monitored the suspect for the remainder of the flight and alerted the Australian Federal Police, who boarded the aircraft upon landing at Perth Airport around 8am local time.
The suspect was taken into custody and appeared before Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He faces charges of sexual intercourse without consent, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years, and an act of indecency without consent, punishable by up to seven years in prison. He has been remanded until his next hearing on Friday.
Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal emphasised that police have zero tolerance for criminal behaviour on aircraft. “Every passenger has the right to feel safe when travelling,” he said, urging anyone subjected to unwanted contact to alert authorities immediately.
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Australian Federal Police and the Western Australia sex assault squad.
