Fiji probes alleged s3xual ass@ult of two Virgin Australia crew members
The alleged attacks occurred on Wednesday, January 1, in the nightclub district of Nadi, a city that hosts Fiji's main international airport, according to Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka.
Pqconnect Fiji police are investigating separate incidents of theft and s3xual assault involving two Virgin Australia crew members in the early hours of New Year’s Day, the government announced on Thursday, January 2.
The alleged attacks occurred on Wednesday, January 1, in the nightclub district of Nadi, a city that hosts Fiji's main international airport, according to Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka.
“The alleged incidents are regrettable,” Gavoka stated. “There were two separate alleged incidents, one being alleged theft and the other being alleged sexual assault, which affected two different crew members.”
Authorities have questioned a suspect known to police in connection with the alleged s3xual assault, and investigations into both cases are ongoing.
The affected crew members are currently staying at a local hotel used by Virgin Australia for layovers. They are expected to return home later this week after assisting with the police inquiry, Gavoka said.
Virgin Australia has dispatched representatives to Fiji to support the impacted staff, while the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs has not yet commented on the situation.
Gavoka, who also serves as Fiji's minister for tourism and civil aviation, emphasized that such incidents could occur anywhere and noted that Fiji is not immune.
“We, as always, remind tourists to exercise caution in nightclub areas and late at night,” he added. Tourism plays a critical role in Fiji’s economy, with nearly a million visitors annually.
