A man charged over the alleged rape and sexual assault of a female airline crew member in Fiji has arrived at court – as new claims emerge about the incident.
Ilaisa Tanoa, 24, was transported to the Nadi Magistrates Court on Monday in a police vehicle and was wearing brightly coloured shirt.
Tanoa was charged on Saturday after the alleged rape and sexual assault of a 21-year-old member of Virgin Australia’s flight crew on New Year’s Day in Nadi, an international gateway to Fiji’s most popular tourist destinations.
She had gone with colleagues to a nightclub district before one member was allegedly robbed outside the popular Bar One nightclub and the 21-year-old was allegedly sexually assaulted in a separate incident.
Tanoa allegedly had offered the young woman a lift back to her hotel posing as a taxi driver, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The woman, who had been separated from her friends, was attempting to make her way home following the nightclub’s 1am lockout.
Police investigations are ongoing.
Bar One issued a statement on Sunday following the incident.
Ilaisa Tanoa, 24, was escorted to the Nadi Magistrates Court on Monday in a police vehicle wearing a brightly coloured shirt.
He covered his head with the palm of his hand as he entered the court
‘We would like to address the recent incident involving two crew members from Virgin Airlines,’ the club said in a social media post.
‘While we acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, we feel it is important to clarify that this incident did not take place within Bar One, nor in the immediate vicinity of our establishment.
‘The Virgin Airlines Crew are regular customers at Bar One and we have never experienced any similar incidents in the past, so it is disheartening to see our establishment portrayed in a negative light due to circumstances that (are) not directly related to our bar.’
The alleged incident occurred during ongoing debates about Fiji’s lockout laws, which require businesses to close at 1am, replacing the earlier 5am closing time.
Local politicians are concerned these incidents could hurt Fiji’s tourism-reliant economy especially after seven visitors, including four Australians, fell ill after drinking cocktails at a five-star resort in December.
But the Australian government’s tourism website has not changed its advice for the Pacific nation.
It maintains Australians should exercise normal safety precautions and highlights the possibility of crime, noting the highest risk is in urban areas and at night.
The Virgin crew members stayed in their hotel near Nadi International Airport after the alleged incidents and the airline sent across support staff.
Government travel advice to Fiji has not changed after alleged assaults on Virgin Australia crew
The crew members returned to Australia last week.
The alleged incidents came just weeks after Fiji attracted negative headlines around the world when seven tourists – including four Australians – were hospitalised after drinking pina coladas at a bar in the ritzy Warwick Resort last month.
Four Australian women aged between 18 and 56 ended up in a critical condition in hospital after consuming the drinks at the five-star resort.
They suffered nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms with one victim’s friend telling Daily Mail Australia that she was ‘foaming at the mouth’ and having seizures.
A toxicology report had cleared the cocktails – and the source of the poisoning remains a mystery.
‘I can confirm that no illicit substances or methanol were found in the ingredients or liquor samples,’ Fiji’s deputy prime minister Viliame Gavoka said.
‘All of the affected tourists and the locals have now been discharged from medical care, fully recovered. This is a significant relief.’
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
