Swiss security has reported it has arrested an Indian businessman for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl while she slept on a flight from Mumbai to Zurich.
The 44-year-old perpetrator was on his way to Belgium aboard a Swiss International Air Lines flight., according to Swiss media, the incident happened in March.
According to the prosecution, the defendant abused the girl who was sitting next to him when he noticed that she was asleep.
The forty-year-old began touching her appropriately. He then slipped his hand into her panties and penetrated her with one finger.
He also placed the teenager’s hand on his penis several times and forced her to stroke it through her clothes. Once awake, the young girl was too shocked to defend herself.
The Indian man was arrested upon his arrival in Zurich. The manner of his arrest was not clearly established during the trial.
He initially denied the charges against him before finally confessing.
Suspended sentence
Placed in pre-trial detention for five months, the businessman was sentenced to an 18-month suspended prison sentence, with a two-year probationary period.
He was also banned from entering Switzerland for five years and given a lifetime ban on working with minors.
“A rather lenient sentence given the seriousness of the facts,” the judge said.
After the judgment, the businessman was deported to his home country.
In Switzerland, any form of sexual intercourse without consent is now considered rape.
