Shock new twist in alleged Virgin crew attack
A Fijian man accused of raping a female Virgin Australia crew member will appear in court on Monday as more details of the alleged attack emerge.
World
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A fake Fijian taxi driver accused of raping a female Virgin Australia crew member will appear in court on Monday.
The man was due to face Nadi Magistrates Court on the island’s west coast, about 20 minutes’ drive from Fiji’s international airport.
He was charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault for an attack on the 21-year-old flight attendant who was celebrating New Year’s Eve on a layover.
New details have emerged about the incident, with claims that the man had offered the young woman a lift back to her hotel posing as a taxi driver.
It was alleged that the attack took place at some point during the trip to the Tanoa Hotel where the Virgin Australia staffer was staying.
At least two Virgin Australia staffers were out at Bar One on New Year’s Eve in a nightclub hot spot in Nadi, Fiji’s second biggest town.
The woman was separated from her friends and was trying to get home after the nightclub’s 1am lockout when she was allegedly tricked into getting into the accused man’s car.
Bar One has attempted to distance itself from the alleged crimes, but confirmed Virgin Australia flight crews were regulars at the bar.
“We would like to address the recent incident involving two crew members from Virgin Airlines,” Bar One said in a social media post.
“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 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 on a recent night.
The incident in Nadi comes after Fiji Police announced more patrols in the capital Suva, about five hours’ drive away, after wild brawls on the weekend.
But there has not been a similar increase in police presence in Nadi despite the attacks on the Virgin Australia crew.
Fiji’s tourism image has taken a hit in recent weeks with seven people, including four Australians, hospitalised over a poisoning incident at the Warwick Resort.
Police have ruled out methanol poisoning, but the cause remains unknown.
stephen.drill@news.com.au
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