Girl testifies via video from abroad, accused receives 3 years in prison for molesting a 14-year-old on a flight from Doha to Bengaluru

BENGALURU: A 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a passenger on a flight from Doha to Bengaluru. Flight last year before a special court Court in the city through Video conference from abroad.
The accusedAmawasai Murugesan, 51, of Tamil Nadu, who works as a public relations officer of a private company in Doha, was convicted by Special Judge Saraswathi KN on Tuesday. The judge sentenced him to three years in prison and a fine of Rs 10,000.

On the morning of June 27, 2023, the girl's father filed a complaint with the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) police, alleging that Murugesan, who was sitting next to his daughter during the Doha-Bengaluru flight, had inappropriately touched the child. The accused was arrested under the Pocso Act.
“Defendant released on bail to appeal his conviction”
Public Prosecutor A Chandrakala said Murugesan had consumed alcohol and inappropriately touched the girl on the pretext of offering her food. “The girl's mother objected to Murugesan's behaviour. He forced the girl to accept the food offered by him. The girl said he had inappropriately touched her. The matter was brought to the notice of the crew members, who termed Murugesan an unruly passenger and changed his seat. He was handed over to the police at the KIA soon after the flight landed,” Chandrakala said.
According to the prosecutor's office, the girl and her parents came to the city for a month and, after receiving permission from the court to appear in court via video conference, flew back to the foreign country where they live.
Murugesan had gone Deposit after spending nearly two months in custody in Bengaluru Central JailMurugesan was present in court and was granted bail for appeal against his conviction, Chandrakala said.