Singapore: Indian Man Arrested For Multiple Sexual Assaults During 14 Hr Flight

A shocking incident on a Singapore Airlines flight has led to the arrest of a 73-year-old Indian national, Balasubramanian Ramesh, who allegedly sexually assaulted four women over a 14-hour journey. The case has garnered significant attention due to its alarming details and the legal consequences it entails.

Incident Overview

The incident occurred on November 18 during a flight from the United States to Singapore. According to reports, Ramesh assaulted four women a total of seven times. His alleged actions included sexually harassing one woman four times, while the other three women were each assaulted once.

The Timeline of the Assaults:

3:15 AM: The first assault occurred.

3:20 AM: The second woman was reportedly assaulted.

3:30 AM to 6:00 AM: The second woman faced repeated assaults, totalling three times during this period.

9:30 AM to 5:00 PM: The third and fourth victims were targeted.

Legal Proceedings and Possible Penalties

On November 25, Ramesh was presented before a Singapore court. Under Singaporean law, each act of sexual assault is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine. Despite the severity of these punishments, individuals aged 50 and above are exempt from caning, a penalty often imposed in sexual assault cases. This is why at 73, Ramesh will not face caning. If convicted, he could still face a combined sentence of up to 21 years in prison.

Broader Context of Sexual Assault on Flights

This case is not an isolated incident. Similar events have highlighted the issue of in-flight sexual misconduct. In October 2024, a 45-year-old man in India, Rakesh Sharma, was arrested for sexually assaulting a passenger on an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai. The survivor reported that Sharma, seated behind her, inappropriately touched her while she occupied a window seat. Flight staff were immediately informed, and the accused was arrested upon the plane's arrival in Chennai. He faced seven molestation charges in a district court.

Need for Action

Enhanced surveillance, prompt crew intervention, and strict legal accountability are crucial steps toward ensuring that something as basic as air travel becomes a safe experience for women. While legal consequences act as a necessary deterrent, they alone cannot fully address the deep-seated issue of sexual misconduct. Real change requires a systemic overhaul that goes beyond reactive measures and focuses on dismantling the societal norms and structures that perpetuate and enable such behavior. 

This involves starting from the ground up—challenging the culture of entitlement, addressing ingrained gender biases, and fostering accountability at every level of society. It is only by reshaping these foundational attitudes that we can create a world where such violations are not just punished but prevented entirely.