Police in Fiji are investigating allegations of robbery and sexual assault on two Virgin Australia crew members in the early hours of New Year's Day, the government said Thursday.
The alleged attacks took place on Wednesday in the area of a nightclub in the city of Nadi, where the international airport is located, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said.
“The alleged events are tragic,” Gavoka said in a report.
“There were two separate incidents, one of which was an alleged robbery and the other an alleged sexual assault, which involved two different members of the team,” he said.
“A suspect has been questioned about the alleged sexual assault. An investigation is ongoing.”
The crew members are at a local hotel used by the airline for layovers and are expected to return home this week after checking with the police, the minister said.
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Virgin Australia has sent representatives to Fiji to support the 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 minister for tourism and civil aviation, said such attacks could happen anywhere and Fiji was “not immune”.
“We are, as usual, reminding tourists to be careful in nightclub areas and late at night,” he said.
The latest crime statistics posted by Fiji police in November the crime rate for the month of October showed a 6% increase 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 an American hospital in Fiji after drinking cocktails at a resort bar. However, authorities later said that the tourists not to be poisoned by alcohol or illegal drugs, officials said after a toxicology report.
