Fiji police are investigating allegations of theft and sexual assault on two Virgin Australia crew members within the early hours of New Year’s Day, the federal government mentioned Thursday.
The alleged assaults passed off Wednesday within the nightclub space of the town of Nadi, dwelling to the worldwide airport, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka mentioned.
“The alleged incidents are regrettable,” Gavoka mentioned in a statement.
“There had been two separate alleged incidents, one being alleged theft and the opposite being alleged sexual assault, which affected two totally different crew members,” he mentioned.
“A suspect recognized to police for the alleged sexual assault has been questioned. Investigation continues.”
The crew members are at an area resort utilized by the airline for layovers and they’re set to return dwelling this week after serving to the police probe, the minister mentioned.
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Virgin Australia has despatched representatives to Fiji to offer help for the affected workers.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade informed the Reuters information company it was conscious of the experiences however declined to remark additional.
Gavoka, who can also be the minister for tourism and civil aviation, mentioned such assaults can occur anyplace and Fiji was not “immune.”
“We, as all the time, remind vacationers to train warning in nightclub areas and late at night time,” he mentioned.
The most up-to-date crime statistics posted by Fiji police in November confirmed the crime fee for the month of October elevated by 6% in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months.
Fiji depends closely on its tourism trade, with near one million guests a 12 months.
Last month, seven international vacationers, together with an American, had been hospitalized in Fiji after consuming cocktails at a resort bar. However, authorities later mentioned the vacationers had been not poisoned by alcohol or illicit medicine, officers mentioned following a toxicology report.
