A 20-year-old Indian man, Rajat, was sentenced to three weeks in jail after pleading guilty to molesting a stewardess on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from Perth to Singapore.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CASE:
- The court sentenced Rajat to three weeks’ imprisonment, citing the seriousness of the offence and the unique risks involved in onboard molestation.
- Rajat approached and inappropriately touched the stewardess while she was cleaning the restroom, causing her distress.
- A passenger intervened, pulling the stewardess away and assisting her to regain composure.
WHAT HAPPENED :
The incident occurred on February 28 when Rajat, a university student in Australia, directly approached the stewardess while she was cleaning a restroom, according to ST.
According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugene Lau, Rajat placed both his hands on her hips near her buttocks and pushed into the restroom, causing the stewardess to enter along with him.
A female passenger witnessed the event, quickly intervening by pulling the stewardess out of the restroom and escorting her to the back of the plane to regain composure.
Despite the incident, Rajat requested a private conversation with her.He was arrested after the plane landed at Changi Airport.
The prosecution highlighted that the victim experienced psychological harm, feeling afraid, disgusted, and humiliated. They emphasized the aggravating factors, noting that crimes committed onboard aircraft are particularly serious due to the confined environment, proximity, and lack of immediate law enforcement.
The defence lawyer Ranjit Singh argued for leniency, citing Rajat’s clean record and good conduct at school, suggesting a fine would suffice. He requested only a short custodial sentence of one week if the court did not agree.
The judge ultimately sentenced Rajat to three weeks’ imprisonment, acknowledging the seriousness of the offence while considering mitigation.
In Singapore, molestation convictions can lead to imprisonment of up to three years, fines, caning, or a combination of these penalties.
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