SINGAPORE: A Singapore permanent resident was convicted of three charges of molesting a flight attendant in November 2017 during a Scoot flight from Cochin, India to Singapore.
The 24-year-old victim, who was 22 at the time and the cabin crew-in-charge of the flight, testified in court that Vijayan Mathan Gopal was the last passenger to board the flight. He was reeking of alcohol and his pants were unzipped.
After arguing over the payment for food, Vijayan told the victim that he wanted to complain about her colleague. The victim and her fellow flight attendants cannot be named due to a court gag order to protect their identities.
Suddenly, Vijayan held the victim’s right hand and stroked her face while saying: “You are so beautiful.” He then cupped her face, put his hand on her thigh and touched her buttock — in full view of two others.
After being charged, Vijyan claimed trial to his offences and denied committing them. He also claimed that the victim and her colleague had fabricated the incident to prevent his complaint about the latter’s “poor service” from surfacing.
Yesterday, District Judge Salina Ishak found Vijayan – now 39 years old – guilty of the charges, as she accepted the victim’s evidence and rejected Vijayan’s defence.
The judge adjourned sentencing to Aug 28. Vijayan remains out on bail.
For each charge of using criminal force to outrage the victim’s modesty under the Penal Code, read with the Tokyo Convention Act, he could be jailed for up to two years, fined, caned, or any combination of the three.
Under the Tokyo Convention Act, if a crime takes place on a Singapore-controlled aircraft flying outside of the country, the offender can be charged for the offence under Singapore laws.
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