Fake taxi driver accused of raping a Virgin Australia flight attendant makes a last-minute bid

A man who pretended to be a taxi driver before allegedly raping a Virgin Australia flight attendant on New Year’s Day returns to court.

A Fijian man accused of raping a Virgin Australia flight attendant on New Year’s Day has made an application for bail.

Ilaisa Tanoa Degei, 24, fronted Lautoka High Court on Monday charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault on the 21-year-old crew member.

The woman had been celebrating the new year at Bar One, a nightclub in Nadi, during a layover when she became separated from her colleagues after about 1am on January 1.

Degei posed as a taxi driver and offered to give her a lift back to Tanoa International Hotel before the alleged assault. He is accused of digitally raping her.

Ilaisa Tanoa Degei (pictured centre) tricked a flight attendant into thinking he was a cab driver in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Degei, 24, (pictured right) is accused of digitally raping the flight attendant.

In court on Monday, prosecutors told Justice Sunil Sharma they had received the brief of evidence from police on Friday and requested a 14-day adjournment.

Degei’s Legal Aid lawyer, Timoci Varinava, lodged a bail application with two surety offers. His first bail application earlier in January was denied.

The matter was adjourned to February 10. Degei was transported back to Natabua Corrections Centre.

Bar One previously tried to distance itself from the alleged crimes but confirmed Virgin Australia flight crews were regulars at the venue.

“We would like to address the recent incident involving two crew members from Virgin Airlines,” the venue said in a social media post.

Degei (pictured centre) appeared in court for his second mention on Monday.

“While we acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, we feel it is important to clarify that this incident did not take place within Bar One, nor in the immediate vicinity of our establishment.

“The Virgin Airlines 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 (are) not directly related to our Bar.”

A male Virgin Australia flight crew member was also allegedly bashed and robbed on the same night after drinking at Bar One.

His wallet and phone were reportedly stolen when he walked down a nearby street in search of a taxi home.

The incident has raised questions about Fiji’s lockout laws, which forces everyone to leave at 1am instead of the previous 5am closing time.

Footage from the bar’s social media posts show hundreds of people gathering outside the bar at closing time.

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