By Sarah McPhee, Jessica McSweeney and Penry Buckley
A suspect has been questioned over the alleged sexual assault of a Virgin Australia crew member celebrating the new year in Fiji as police investigate two incidents involving airline staff.
Fiji’s Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation said there were “two separate alleged incidents, one being alleged theft and the other being alleged sexual assault which affected two different crew members” in the early hours of January 1 in a nightclub area in Nadi.
Members of a Virgin Australia crew have allegedly been assaulted at Nadi, Fiji.Credit: The Fiji Times.
Assistant Police Commissioner Mesake Waqa told the ABC a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted and a man was allegedly robbed, sustaining facial injuries, outside the Bar One nightclub in Martintar.
Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka, also the minister for tourism and civil aviation, said the alleged incidents were “regrettable” and the government’s thoughts and concerns were with the health and wellbeing of the airline’s crew members.
“A suspect known to police for the alleged sexual assault has been questioned. Investigation continues,” Gavoka said in a statement on Thursday.
“The crew, who are in good health, are being accommodated at a local hotel, which is the nominated crew accommodation for layovers. The three crew members were also advised by their headquarters to remain within the hotel vicinity to ensure contactability and assist with police investigations; they should return home before the end of this week.”
Gavoka labelled reports the crew had been “detained” as “incorrect and false”. He added: “Regrettably, incidents like this can happen anywhere, and Fiji is not immune. We, as always, remind tourists to exercise caution in nightclub areas and late at night.”
Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew said the suspects are alleged to be locals, according to Fiji Village News.
Virgin confirmed to this masthead it was aware of an incident, saying its priority remained with the welfare of its crew. It declined to provide further comment or details.
Virgin Australia has sent staff from Australia to provide support. The crew members were replaced for the return flight to Australia and the airline’s operations in Fiji were not affected.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it was aware of the reports, but owing to privacy obligations was unable to provide further comment.
The incident is the second Fijian police investigation involving Australians in as many months after four tourists were hospitalised after becoming ill at the Warwick Resort in December.
Seven people became ill after drinking pina coladas at the resort. Subsequent testing revealed no traces of a suspected contaminant, methanol, in the drinks. The source of the illness is still unknown.
The federal government advises Australians to “exercise normal safety precautions” in Fiji, the lowest of its four travel advice levels on Smartraveller.
“Crime in Fiji includes robbery, theft, violent assault, sexual assault and home invasions,” the advice states. “Most crime is opportunistic. The highest risk is in urban areas and at night.”
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