A 24-year-old Fijian man accused of raping and sexually assaulting a Virgin Australia flight attendant on New Year’s Day has been granted bail under strict conditions.
It is reported that Ilaisa Tanoa Degei was charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault after allegedly attacking the 21-year-old woman, who had been celebrating New Year’s Eve with colleagues in Nadi—a major gateway to Fiji’s top tourist destinations.
Degei appeared before the Lautoka High Court on Monday, where he applied for bail.
The court granted his release with sureties of FJD$1,500 (AUD$1,033), on the condition that he must reside in his village and cannot change his address without court approval. He is also barred from leaving Fiji.
The Australian government advises travellers to exercise normal safety precautions in Fiji, but warns that crime—including robbery, violent assault, and sexual assault—is more prevalent in urban areas and at night, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smartraveller website.
The case is set to return to court on 24 February for a plea mention.
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