US: Indian man convicted of sexually-assaulting woman sleeping on flight
A 35-year-old Indian IT manager has been convicted of sexually assaulting a woman sleeping aboard a Detroit-bound flight in the US, media reports said. Prabhu Ramamoorthy, who worked for an IT company for over two years, will be sentenced on December 12 by US District Judge Terrence Berg, The Detroit News reported. Ramamoorthy faces up to life in prison. Here's more.
Ramamoorthy will be deported to India if released
The verdict came seven months after he assaulted a 22-year-old woman on a Spirit Airlines flight from Las Vegas while his wife sat in the next seat, the report said. A federal jury in Michigan's largest city Detroit convicted Ramamoorthy, who lived in Rochester Hills city, of sexually assaulting the woman. If released, Ramamoorthy will be deported to India.
Appreciate victim's courage for speaking up: US Attorney
Following a five-day trial, the jury deliberated for less than four hours before convicting Ramamoorthy. "We will not tolerate the behavior of anyone who takes advantage of victims who are in a vulnerable position, and we are glad the jury agreed," US Attorney Matthew Schneider said in a statement. "We appreciate the victim in this case for her courage to speak out," Schneider said.
Accused's wife was sitting in the aisle seat
The woman said she was sitting in a window seat next to Ramamoorthy, whose wife was in the aisle seat. The victim said that she fell asleep and woke up to discover a hand in her pants and noticed that her pants were unbuttoned and her shirt untied. When she woke up, he stopped, and the woman alerted a flight attendant, the report said.
Ramamoorthy told investigators he 'might have' assaulted the woman
Ramamoorthy initially told investigators that he was in a deep sleep and did not do anything. Later, he told an FBI agent he "might have" undone the woman's bra and cupped her breast, according to court records, the report added.
