The Fiji government has stated that three Virgin Australia crew members are not being detained by Fijian police, who are investigating an alleged sexual assault and theft during a layover.
However, the staff have been instructed by their headquarters to remain in their hotel.
The Fiji government said in a statement that international media reports that the crew are being detained were incorrect.
“The crew, who are in good health, are being accommodated at a local hotel which is the nominated crew accommodation for layovers,” said the statement by Fijian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka.
“The three crew members were also advised by their Headquarters to remain within the hotel vicinity to ensure contactability and assist with police investigations; they should return home before the end of this week.”
The Fiji government has said police are investigating separate incidents involving the Virgin crew in the nightclub area of the city of Nadi, home to an international airport, in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The Virgin employees were a male and a female, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported, adding the female was the victim of an alleged sexual assault and the male was the victim of an alleged theft outside a nightclub they had attended.
Unfortunate Incident: Fiji’s Deputy PM
“The reported incidents are unfortunate,” stated Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka in an official statement.
He explained that there were two separate allegations: one involving theft and the other concerning sexual assault, each affecting different crew members.
“A suspect in the sexual assault case, already known to the police, has been questioned. Investigations are ongoing,” he added.
Virgin Australia flew out additional staff to crew the return aircraft flight instead of the staff involved in the alleged incidents manning the plane, Australian media reported.
The ABC named the nightclub near where the alleged incidents took place as Bar One, which did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on Friday. Fiji Police also did not respond to a request for comment.
(With inputs from Reuters)
