Indian man sexually assaults sleeping co-passenger while wife sat beside
What's the story
An Indian man allegedly molested a woman sleeping next to him on a Las Vegas-Detroit flight while his wife sat on the other side. In his statement, he said he was in "deep sleep" and isn't sure "where (he) kept the hand". However, he later told an FBI agent that he played with her bra, cupped her breast and unzipped her pants, reported DFP.
Details
What happened, according to the victim
The incident happened aboard a Spirit Airlines flight on January 3. The victim said she woke up to find 34-year-old Prabhu Ramamoorthy's "fingers in her (genitals) and vigorously moving them." Crying, she approached flight attendants, who then offered her a different seat. Her shirt and pants were unbuttoned, attendants said. Ramamoorthy was arrested as soon as the plane landed.
Confession
Man first denies, then admits he touched her
Both Ramamoorthy and his wife initially claimed he had taken a pill and fallen asleep. The victim was sleeping on his knees, they said. Later, he told an agent that he "might have undone (her) bra while playing with it, and that he had cupped her (clothed) breast." He also admitted trying to put his finger into her vagina, "but wasn't successful."
Action
Man held without bail pending trial
Noting it was a "very unusual case," a judge ordered Ramamoorthy, who's in the US on a temporary visa, to be held without bail pending trial for aggravated sexual assault. Magistrate Judge Steven Whalen also ruled his wife won't be a suitable guardian, considering "she's either colluding with the defendant to cover up his actions or she's completely oblivious to what he did."