A 41-year-old Sri Lankan man appeared in Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on 19 December 2024 charged with allegedly committing an act of indecency aboard an international flight.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege the man committed the offence against a female passenger during a flight from Sri Lanka to Melbourne on Wednesday, 18 December 2024. The passenger alerted airline staff, who promptly notified the AFP.
Upon the plane’s arrival at Melbourne Airport, AFP officers conducted interviews with passengers and crew members. The man was subsequently charged with one count of an act of indecency, under section 60 (1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT), as applied through section 15 (1) of the Crimes (Aviation) Act 1991 (Cth). This charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Stephen Cook reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to ensuring traveller safety, stating,
“All travellers have the right to feel safe, and the AFP has zero tolerance for any form of inappropriate or offensive behaviour, including on board an aircraft.”
“When travelling through the airport and when on a plane, people are bound by Australian law. Where there is evidence that someone has committed a criminal offence, the AFP will take action,” Det-Supt Cook said.
He added that the AFP remains dedicated to supporting airport staff and aviation partners, while upholding zero tolerance for inappropriate conduct in the aviation sector.
The accused was granted bail and is scheduled to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 9 January 2025.
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