Police in Fiji are investigating allegations that two Virgin Australia crew members were robbed and sexually assaulted in the early hours of New Year’s Day, the government said on Thursday.
The alleged attacks took place on Wednesday in the nightclub area of the city of Nadi, home to the international airport, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said.
“The alleged incidents are unfortunate,” Gavoka said in one statement.
“There were two separate alleged incidents, one of alleged robbery and the other of alleged sexual assault, involving two different crew members,” he said.
“A suspect known to police for the alleged sexual assault has been questioned. The investigation is ongoing.”
Crew members are staying at a local hotel used by the airline for layovers and will return home this week after helping police investigate, the minister said.
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Virgin Australia has sent representatives to Fiji to support affected staff.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Reuters news agency it was aware of the reports, but declined to comment further.
Gavoka, who is also the tourism and civil aviation minister, said such attacks can happen anywhere and that Fiji was not “immune”.
“As always, we remind tourists to exercise caution in club areas and at night,” he said.
The latest crime statistics published by the Fiji Police in November showed that the crime rate for the month of October increased by 6% compared to the same period last year.
Fiji relies heavily on its tourism industry, with nearly a million visitors a year.
Last month there were seven foreign tourists, including one American hospitalized in Fiji after having cocktails at a resort bar. However, the authorities later said that the tourists were not poisoned by alcohol or illicit drugs, officials said after a toxicology report.