Singapore, April 2 – A 73-year-old Indian national has been sentenced to nine months in jail for molesting four female crew members aboard a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from the United States to Singapore. The incident occurred during a 14-hour journey from San Francisco on November 18, 2024.
As per agency report, Balasubramaniam Ramesh, a former bank manager from India, pleaded guilty to four counts of molestation, while three additional charges related to one of the victims were taken into consideration during sentencing. According to The Straits Times, Ramesh committed the offenses at four different instances during the flight.
Under Singaporean law, each molestation charge carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment, a fine, or caning. However, due to his age being over 50, Ramesh was not eligible for caning, which is otherwise permitted under local laws.
The case drew attention as it involved multiple victims and occurred within the confines of an international flight, underscoring the seriousness with which such offenses are treated in Singapore’s legal system.
