Magistrate sends alleged fake taxi rapist to face Fiji’s high court

A man charged over the rape and sexual assault of a female Virgin Australia crew member in Fiji has been referred to the nation’s High Court due to the seriousness of his alleged offences.

Ilaisa Tanoa Degei, 24, faced Nadi Magistrate’s court charged with one count of rape and one count of the sexual assault.

The court then referred the matter to Fiji’s Lautoka High Court where he is now due to appear on January 20.

Magistrate Maretta Tikoisuva said the charges were indictable offences when making her decision to transfer the hearing and refused bail for Degei.

Degei was taken into custody on Wednesday after the alleged rape and sexual assault of a 21-year-old member of Virgin Australia’s flight crew on New Year’s Day.

The night before, the crew member had been celebrating with other airline flight crew members in Nadi, an international gateway to Fiji’s most popular tourist destinations located on the western side of the nation’s main island.

Her group had gone to a nightclub district in town during their layover before one member was allegedly robbed and the 21-year-old was reportedly sexually assaulted in separate incidents.

Some Virgin Australia staff members on New Year’s Eve had attended Bar One, which is located in the area.

While the establishment acknowledged it was often frequented by crew from the airline, it clarified that the alleged incident did not take place within its immediate vicinity.

“The Virgin Airlines Crew are regular customers at Bar One and we have never experienced any similar incidents in the past, so it is disheartening to see our establishment portrayed in a negative light due to circumstances not directly related to our bar,” a Bar One social media post said.

The woman had reportedly been separated from her companions and was attempting to return to the hotel after the nightclub’s lockout when the incident occurred.

Fiji’s lockout laws, which were amended in 2023, force all nightclubs to close at 1am.

Police investigations are ongoing, but according to the Fiji government, the suspect involved in the alleged sexual assault incident was known to the police.

Earlier in the week, Fiji’s Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka expressed concern for the flight crew and said “incidents like this can happen anywhere and Fiji is not immune”.

Some are concerned the incidents could hurt Fiji’s tourism-reliant economy especially after seven visitors, including four Australians, fell ill after drinking cocktails at a five-star resort in December.

But the Australian government’s tourism website has not changed its advice for the Pacific nation.

It maintains Australians should exercise normal safety precautions and highlights the possibility of crime, noting the highest risk is in urban areas and at night.

The Virgin crew members stayed in their hotel near Nadi International Airport after the incidents and the airline sent support staff to Fiji.

The crew members returned to Australia last week.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028