Kamal Ghorui
An Indian man has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman seated next to him on a flight to Australia.52-year-old Sudhir Kumar Chahuan is accused of attacking a female passenger during a Scoot Airlines flight travelling from Singapore to Perth on Monday, according to the Australian Federal Police. The incident reportedly took place mid-flight, leaving the woman distressed.The passenger immediately alerted cabin crew, who responded by moving her to a different seat. Airline staff then monitored the accused for the remainder of the journey after notifying authorities on the ground.Police officers were waiting when the aircraft landed in Perth and arrested Chahuan upon arrival. He has since been charged with sexual intercourse without consent and multiple counts of indecency without consent.“Every passenger has the right to feel safe when traveling, especially when confined in an aircraft close to other passengers,” AFP Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal said in a statement, reports the New York Post. He added: “Anyone subjected to (alleged) unwanted contact is encouraged to alert the authorities, be it airline staff, the AFP or airport security, as soon as it is safely possible to do so. No act of indecency on an aircraft or at an airport is appropriate, and any travelers who break the law will be dealt with swiftly.”The accused person’s identity was reported by The West Australian newspaper. He remains in custody and is due to appear in court for a bail hearing on Friday.
