Alleged rapist of Virgin Australia crew member faces court in Fiji
A local farmer has faced court in Fiji over the alleged rape of a Virgin Australia cabin crew member on New Year’s Day.
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A 24-year-old farmer from Suva in Fiji has faced court charged with the rape and sexual assault of a young Virgin Australia cabin crew member on New Year’s Day.
Ilaisa Tanoa Degei is alleged to have posed as a taxi driver to lure the 21-year-old woman into his car after she became separated from her workmates at Bar One nightclub at Martintar in Nadi.
Tanoa Degei faced Nadi Magistrates Court on Monday charged with one count each of rape and sexual assault.
He was remanded in custody by Magistrate Mareta Tikoisuva, who ordered Tanoa Degei to make application for bail to the Lautoka High Court.
Going forward, the matter will be dealt with by the High Court with harsher penalties upon conviction.
A hearing has been set down for January 20.
The Virgin Australia employee has since returned to Melbourne where she is being supported by the airline, her family and friends.
Another Virgin Australia cabin crew member was also the victim of crime in Fiji on New Year’s Day, sustaining injuries to his face in a violent mugging.
Bar One nightclub issued a statement after the offences last week, out of concern it was being portrayed in a “negative light” in news reports.
“The Virgin Australia airline crew are regular customers at Bar One and we have never experienced any similar incidents in the past, so it is disheartening to see our establishment portrayed in a negative light due to circumstances that is not directly related to our Bar,” said a Facebook post by the operators.
The incidents are the latest setback for Fiji, which relies heavily on Australian visitors for its economic wellbeing.
In December seven people were hospitalised including four Australians after drinking cocktails at a five-star resort in Fiji.
Despite suffering severe symptoms including life-threatening seizures and bleeding from the eyes and nose, a toxicology report found no traces of methanol or other illicit substances in the pina colada drinks.
At the time tourism leaders expressed their concern about the incident, vowing it would be thoroughly investigated, and reassuring prospective visitors of Fiji’s reputation as a safe holiday destination.
Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka told the ABC Fiji remained a safe country, but “one needed to exercise care in certain areas”.
“Last year, we reduced nightclub [opening] hours,” he said.
“But when you’re on holidays, you don’t want to make too many rules, people are here to relax.”
Originally published as Alleged rapist of Virgin Australia crew member faces court in Fiji
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