A 24-year-old farmer, Ilaisa Tanoa Degei, has been denied bail in Fiji after being charged with raping a 21-year-old Virgin Australia flight attendant on New Year’s Day.
The Nadi Magistrates Court heard that Degei allegedly assaulted the Australian crew member after she became separated from colleagues while returning to her hotel from a nightclub in Nadi.
The case, due to its severity, has been escalated to the High Court in Lautoka, with a hearing set for 20 January.
Degei faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Meanwhile, a separate violent robbery involving another Virgin crew member was also reported.
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister, Viliame Gavoka, called the incidents “regrettable,” adding, “Fiji is not immune to such events.”
The alleged assault has sparked concern for Fiji’s tourism sector, which heavily depends on Australian visitors.