Woman Who Was Sexually Assaulted By A Steward On MAS MH20 Breaks Her Silence
Published by Sadho Ram
A chief steward on Malaysia Airlines flight MH20 from Kuala Lumpur to Paris is accused of molesting an Australian woman earlier this month. He is being questioned by French police.
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MAS Criticised For Firing Flight Attendant Accused Of Sexual Assault
- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) today confirmed that it terminated the services of a flight attendant who had been held in a Paris detention centre since August for alleged sexual assault on a passenger.
- ”Malaysia Airlines is not at liberty to comment on the matter as it is currently under the judicial purview of the authorities and we confirm that the person is no longer an employee of the company," the statement read. Earlier today, The Malaysian Insider reported that the employee, who had served MAS for 32 years, was notified of his termination in a letter that was sent to his home in the Klang Valley two weeks after the alleged incident.
- The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) today has cried foul over the sacking, citing the national carrier’s move as unlawful as the cabin crew has yet to be charged and tried for the alleged assault.
- Ismail said that it is "unbelievable and unacceptable" for MAS to abandon an employee who has been working with the company for 32 years. "There is still no valid proof, and they left him there for four months. Can you imagine how he is feeling being abandoned by his employer. MAS is completely disengaged from him," questioned Ismail.
- Mr Ismail urged French authorities to allow the MAS crew member to return home immediately if there was insufficient evidence since his wife and three children are under severe emotional and financial stress. "We have to ensure this crew [member] gets some justice. Why punish the crew [member] when he is not found guilty?" he said.
- Ismail said MAS had not provided any assistance to the family of the attendant, adding that the Malaysian embassy in Paris was the one helping him and the family cope. He said that MAS wanted to wash its hands of the incident as it was struggling from the negative publicity generated following the MH370 and MH17 incidents.
A 26-year-old Australian woman named Laura Bushney, alleging that she had been sexually assaulted by a MAS steward on an intercontinental flight has gone public about her ordeal
- Three hours into the half-full flight to Paris, Laura Bushney, 26, said Mohd Rosli Bin Ab Karim sat beside her and allegedly began massaging her legs under the guise of "comforting her" and later put his hand down her pants.
The 26-year-old alleged victim told her story to the Seven Network, in an interview to air this week. She said she was terrified when the 54-year-old steward allegedly began massaging her legs.
- She said she was terrified when the 54-year-old steward allegedly began touching her, but was "frozen in panic. I just keep saying why didn’t I scream, why didn’t I shout? Why didn’t I stop it? I am a strong person because I can do that, I know I can," Ms Bushney said. "When I was in the moment I couldn’t. I felt so scared, so petrified."
Shaky video footage, apparently recorded by the woman using her iPhone after the alleged assault, shows a MAS staff member sitting across from her, clasping his hands together
- Laura was reported to have recorded an exchange mid-flight in which a woman is heard crying and saying: “I’m so scared, I just want to get off this plane ... I don’t want to see you, go away, you give me the creeps, you dirty old man.”
- “You did, you did, you did, don’t lie. It’s what you did,” the woman can be heard telling him.
- Bushney was travelling by herself when the 54-year-old steward allegedly sexually assaulted her, causing her to "freeze in panic". Bushney recorded the incident on her iPhone under a blanket as well as another face-to-face altercation after the incident when Rosli realised he had been in the wrong.
According to reports, the woman said the incident began when she told Rosli she was anxious about flying with MAS after recent MAS tragedies. She alleges that on the pretext of comforting her, Rosli started massaging her legs and put his hands down her pants.
After MH20 touched down on 4 August, Rosli was detained by police at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and remains in custody after making admissions relating to the alleged crime
- In a statement last week, Malaysia Airlines confirmed the allegations had been made were made and that a member of staff had been detained by French police. “We will naturally assist the French authorities as they conduct their investigation and would stress that the safety, comfort and well-being of our passengers is always our highest priority,” it said.
- While the airline gave no other details about the member of staff arrested, the Australian news site said the chief steward is married with children remains in the custody of French police after “making admissions.” However, Rosli has maintained his “intentions were good”.
