Man accused of assaulting woman as she slept on long-haul flight

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A man has been charged with indecently assaulting a woman as she slept on board a flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne earlier this week.

Mounir Botros, 71, is accused of touching the woman inappropriately and reaching inside her clothes as she tried to sleep during the flight on September 22.

Mounir Botros is accused of indecently assaulting a female passenger on an international flight from the US.

The woman reported the alleged assault to airline staff, who moved her to a different seat for the remainder of the flight and alerted the Australian Federal Police.

AFP officers met the flight when it landed in Australia, interviewing Botros and witnesses before charging the 71-year-old with committing an act of indecency without consent.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

Botros appeared at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where his lawyer, Sarah Condon, attempted to suppress media reporting of her client.

Condon told the court her client was unaware the AFP would issue a media release about his alleged offending and that applications by the media to access court documents on Wednesday morning had a “catastrophic pyschological impact” on him.

“My client was charged on Monday evening. This is a very quick turnaround in terms of a first listing of the matter,” she told the court.

Condon later withdrew the application, telling the court she would “no longer persist” with it.

Botros, dressed in a light pink shirt and dark grey cardigan, appeared remotely via video link and was not required to speak during the proceedings.

Magistrate Stella Stuthridge adjourned the case until November 20 to allow the prosecution more time to compile the brief of evidence. Botros’ bail conditions were also extended.

In a media release recounting the alleged offending issued on Wednesday morning, AFP Detective Superintendent Stephen Cook said air travellers should feel safe from harm.

“As passenger numbers rise for the busy school holiday period, I’d also like to remind passengers that being in the air does not alleviate the consequences of alleged illegal behaviour,” he said.

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