An Indonesian man has been sentenced to 15 months’ jail and three strokes of the cane after molesting a 17-year-old female passenger onboard a Scoot flight bound for Singapore.
The incident took place on April 15 while the aircraft was travelling from Okinawa, Japan, to Singapore. The victim, who was seated beside the offender, was asleep when the molestation occurred.
Court documents revealed that the teenager was subjected to repeated inappropriate touching while trapped in her seat during the flight, leaving her feeling frightened, violated and helpless.
Victim Was Sleeping During Incident
The offender, 20-year-old Ariel Lhudfiyan Muarifin, was working as a construction worker in Okinawa at the time.
According to court proceedings, both passengers fell asleep shortly after boarding. Ariel later woke up and claimed that accidental body contact with the victim triggered a sexual urge.
He told investigators that he found the teenager attractive and decided to touch her.
The court heard that Ariel initially stroked the girl’s thigh before moving his hand to other parts of her body, including her abdomen, hip and breast.
Molestation Continued Despite Victim Moving Away
The victim became aware of the unwanted contact and attempted to shift her body away from Ariel.
However, instead of stopping, he allegedly continued touching her.
Court documents stated that Ariel eventually slid his hand into the victim’s pants and underwear, touching her buttocks.
When the teenager turned to look at him, he appeared to have his eyes closed.
Feeling uneasy and unsure of what to do, she pretended to remain asleep while monitoring his actions.
The inappropriate touching reportedly continued for several more minutes before finally stopping.
Cabin Crew Alerted During Flight
Distressed by what had happened, the victim eventually left her seat and informed a member of the cabin crew.
The airline subsequently lodged a police report after the aircraft landed in Singapore.
Police officers arrested Ariel at Changi Airport Terminal 1 approximately two hours after arrival.
He was later charged with using criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of another person.
Court Highlights Serious Nature Of Offence
During sentencing, prosecutors argued that Ariel had taken advantage of the victim’s vulnerable position onboard the aircraft.
They noted that he continued his actions even after the teenager showed signs of discomfort and attempted to move away.
The prosecution further submitted that the offence involved a significant degree of sexual exploitation and caused substantial emotional harm to the victim.
The court accepted Ariel’s guilty plea and sentenced him to 15 months’ imprisonment along with three strokes of the cane.
Prosecutors emphasised that the offender did not act in a brief moment of confusion but instead repeatedly targeted the victim while she was unable to easily escape the situation.