Assaulted the sleeping victim for five minutes, says complaint.
By The American Bazaar Staff
WASHINGTON, DC: An Indian-origin passenger, Vinay Pochampally, is facing simple assault charges after he allegedly fondled the breasts of a sleeping woman passenger on board a British Airways flight from London to San Francisco, last week.
According to the charges filed in San Francisco Federal court, Pochampally, who was also reported to be inebriated at the time of the incident, stood behind the sleeping woman’s seat – which was just behind the restroom area – and put his hand down the woman’s shirt. He then fondled her for five minutes, as the victim continued to be asleep. The incident allegedly happened two hours into the 10-hour long flight.
Pochampally initially was sitting in a row just in the front of the victim. He “positioned himself in the gap behind row 37 and in front of the bulkhead,” reported FBI Agent Bianca Betz in a sworn affidavit.
“While in that gap, Pochampally inserted his hand, palm-side down, into the shirt of the sleeping female passenger,” noted Betz. Pochampally’s hand was “underneath the passenger’s shirt and undergarments for approximately four to five minutes, making skin-to-skin contact in the breast and upper chest area,” added Betz.
When the woman awoke, he quickly removed his hand and then ran away, down the plane’s aisle. According to the complaint, several passengers witnessed the molestation, and told the crew what happened.
The crew then directed Pochampally to another seat away from the victim, where he stayed till the flight reached San Francisco, upon which he was arrested and charged.
If convicted, he faces up to six months in prison, along with a $5,000 fine and five years’ probation.