A man has been charged with rape and sexual assault after a Virgin Australia crew member was allegedly attacked while celebrating New Year’s Eve in Fiji.
The alleged incident involving the female crew member happened in the early hours of New Years Day near Nadi’s popular Bar One nightclub.
The man was questioned and charged over the alleged attack on Saturday and will face Nadi Magistrates Court on Monday.
Fijian authorities are also investigating a separate incident where a male Virgin Australia crew member was allegedly assaulted and robbed around the same time and place.
The island nation’s deputy prime minister, Viliame Gavoka, earlier this week extended his sympathies to the alleged victims.
Mr Gavoka said that a suspect, who was ‘known to police’, had been questioned in relation to both encounters.
‘Our thoughts and concerns are with them and for their health and well-being.
‘These alleged incidents are regrettable.
A female member of a Virgin Australia flight crew was allegedly sexually assaulted outside the Bar One nightspot in Nadi
The alleged incidents came after a late night of partying at the popular nightclub (pictured) to celebrate New Year’s Eve
‘The crew, who are in good health, are being accommodated at a local hotel which is the nominated crew accommodation for layovers.’
Mr Gavoka, who is also Fiji’s tourism minister, said he was concerned the incidents could damage the island nation’s reputation as a holiday destination.
‘Regrettably, incidents like this can happen anywhere and Fiji is not immune,’ he said.
‘We, as always, remind tourists to exercise caution in nightclub areas and late at night.’
The alleged assaults come just weeks after Fiji attracted negative headlines around the globe 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 betwen 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.
It sparked fears of a fresh mass methanol poisoning like the one in Laos in November, which claimed the lives of six tourists including Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles.
The Warwick Resort (pictured) is a five-star hotel located on Fiji’s south coast, 92km west of Suva, the nation capital
Seven guests, including four Australian women, at Warwick Resort (pictured) were last month hospitalised following a suspected mass alcohol poisoning
But Mr Gavoka said 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,’ he said.
‘All of the affected tourists and the locals have now been discharged from medical care, fully recovered. This is a significant relief.’
‘No tourist wants to end their holiday in illness and we are sorry that their holiday ended on such a note.’
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