An Indian man has been arrested after he sexually assaulted a woman who was sitting next to him on a plane bound for Australia.Sudhir Kumar Chahwan, 52, was accused of attacking a female passenger during a Scoot Airlines flight from Singapore to Perth on Monday, according to the Australian Federal Police.
The accident reportedly occurred mid-flight, leaving the woman distressed.The passenger immediately informed the flight crew, who responded by moving her to a different seat. Airline employees then monitored the accused for the rest of the flight after notifying authorities on the ground.Police officers were waiting when the plane landed in Perth and arrested Chahwan on 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 while travelling, especially when confined on an aircraft in close proximity to other passengers,” AFP Acting Comptroller Peter Brendal said in a statement reported by the New York Post. He added: “Anyone exposed to (alleged) unwanted contact is encouraged to alert the authorities, be it airline personnel, the Armed Forces of the Philippines or airport security, as soon as it is possible to do so safely. No inappropriate act may be undertaken on an aircraft or at an airport, and any traveler who breaks the law will be dealt with swiftly.”The West Australian newspaper reported the identity of the accused. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing on Friday.
