An Indian businessman raped a 15-year-old girl on an international flight and was arrested in Switzerland. He was recently sentenced to 18 months probation and a 5-year ban from entering the country. The verdict has sparked controversy, with critics claiming the sentence is too lenient.
The incident took place on March 17, when a 44-year-old Indian businessman was flying with Swiss International Air Lines from Mumbai to Zurich, a journey of over nine hours. His seatmate was a 15-year-old girl. The businessman first struck up a conversation with her, then, while the girl was sleeping with a blanket covering her head and upper body, he raped her with his hands and genitals. Although the girl was startled awake, she was so shocked and frightened that she did not make any verbal or physical response during the assault.
Swiss International Air Lines confirmed that the girl notified a crew member about the incident afterwards. The crew immediately relocated her away from the Indian businessman and had staff take care of her. A crew member was assigned to monitor the man for the remainder of the flight.
After the plane landed at Zurich Airport, the Indian businessman was immediately arrested. He initially denied the facts but later confessed, "realizing he had made a mistake," admitted the girl had not consented, and acknowledged knowing she was very young, claiming he "could not control himself."
The businessman was tried in the district court of Bülach, Switzerland, where he admitted to rape and engaging in sexual acts with a minor. The court applied new Swiss laws on sexual crimes, and on August 19 sentenced him to 18 months of probation, a 5-year entry ban to Switzerland, a lifetime ban on engaging in any occupation involving regular contact with minors, and ordered him to pay court costs. After the verdict, the Indian businessman was released and handed over to Swiss immigration authorities for deportation.
The judge called the verdict "fully appropriate," but it drew criticism from many legal experts and child protection advocates, who deemed the sentence too lenient.