Indian born Australian jailed for molestation of FlyScoot cabin crew
While aboard a flight from Sydney to Singapore, an Indian born Australian male passenger repeatedly harassed and molested a flight attendant.
At the State Courts on November 22, Paranjape Niranjan Jayant was jailed three weeks after pleading guilty to two counts of molest. One count of molesting the woman by touching her hand was taken into consideration for his sentencing.
The 34-year-old works for a logistics company in his home country. The victim – a Singaporean in her 20s – is a flight attendant with the FlyScoot budget airline. She cannot be named to protect her identity.
According to court documents, the offence took place aboard a flight in August while the victim was deployed to the aircraft’s business class section, where Paranjape was seated.
Sometime after meal service, Paranjape went to use the toilet at the front galley of the aircraft. The woman suddenly felt a hand caressing her left hip and turned around to see Paranjape with his hand on her. Without removing his hand, Paranjape then asked the woman where she was from.
After the incident, Paranjape repeatedly asked for the woman’s phone number but she ignored him.
About an hour before the flight landed, he again molested her again before asking for her phone number once more.
The woman informed her superior about the offence before telling Paranjape to stop touching her and return to his seat.
Two days later, the woman made a police report at a police post in Changi Airport Terminal 2.
Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew pointed out that the offence had been made against a crew member and had taken place in an aircraft, which were aggravating factors. He sought three weeks’ jail for Paranjape.
In mitigation, Paranjape said that he was “really sorry” for his actions and that he had been away from work the three months while awaiting the conclusion of his court case in Singapore.
