Italian gets four months for molesting sleeping air passenger

He fondled the woman and tried to sit next to her again after the flight crew moved her to a different seat, prosecutors say.

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DUBAI // A 53-year-old transit traveler was sentenced to four months in prison this morning for touching a sleeping female passenger sitting next to him on a flight from Jakarta to Dubai.

Dubai prosecutors said RK, an Italian, grabbed the woman’s leg, laid it between his, massaged her feet, then took off his shirt and touched himself inappropriately. He later touched

the woman’s thighs and breasts.

On December 4, RK was seated next to the victim, who fell asleep after taking a sleeping pill and drinking alcohol.

RK used a blanket to cover the woman’s leg when he put it between his.

A flight attendant, MA, 30, from Poland, testified that she spotted RK grabbing the woman’s leg as she slept.

She said the woman pulled her leg away without waking up, but RK grabbed it again and started massaging it.

MA told prosecutors that a few minutes later, she saw him taking his shirt off and touching himself inappropriately.

She informed her supervisor of the incident, and she moved the woman to a different seat.

The supervisor said RK found the victim and tried to sit next to her again, but the crew did not let him and the flight captain notified police.

RK will be deported after serving his prison term.

salamir@thenational.ae