Japanese man to be prosecuted for sexual harassment

Taipei, April 17 (UNI) Aviation police at Taoyuan International Airport detained a Japanese man for sexually harassing an airline stewardess on a Cathay Pacific Airways flight from Japan.

A spokesman for the Aviation Police Office under the National Police Agency confirmed yesterday that police at the airport have taken the Japanese visitor into custody and will file a charge against him for violation of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act, Central News Agency Taiwan repoted.

According to the spokesman, the unnamed individual is a mechanical engineer who frequently travels to Taiwan from Japan to do maintenance work.

The man already seemed intoxicated when he asked for another alcoholic drink from a Philippine stewardess and, against her will, fondled her chest and abdomen while the airplane was taxiing on a runway at Taoyuan International Airport.

The stewardess insisted on pressing charges against him, while her colleague -- a Japanese stewardess -- was willing to bear witness to the incident.

According to Article 25 of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act of 2005, the Japanese offender could face a prison term of up to two years, plus a fine of up to NT$100,000 (US$3,010).

(By Han Nai-kuo) UNI XC AB DS1222