A 39-year-old Indian national has been convicted of a heinous crime, leaving a 17-year-old victim shaken to her core. Abhinav Kumar, a citizen of India, was found guilty of abusive sexual contact aboard an Emirates flight from Dubai to Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman yesterday.
According to court records and testimony, Kumar engaged the victim in conversation, asking her to meet for coffee, which she politely declined. Later, while the victim was trying to sleep under a blanket, Kumar spread his blanket over himself and the middle seat, positioning himself to commit the crime. The on-board video captured the movement of his arm under the blanket reaching toward the victim.
The victim awoke to find a hand under her blanket, which she initially froze to, but then pulled away. The hand returned, moving up her arm, inside her shirt, and eventually reaching her breast. The victim’s mother was summoned to the bathroom, and the Emirates crew notified law enforcement, who met the plane upon arrival.
Kumar was arrested on a criminal complaint and later indicted by the grand jury. Assistant United States Attorney Sanaa Nagi argued in closing that the victim was frozen with fear, stating, “Nobody expects for a person to grope them on a flight… The defendant did not expect the victim to be brave enough to report him.”
Abusive sexual contact is punishable by up to two years in prison, and Kumar faces this maximum sentence when he is sentenced on August 1, 2024. The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Port of Seattle Police and Customs and Border Protection.
The brave actions of the victim and her family in reporting the crime have brought a predator to justice. The Grimy Times commends their courage and resilience in the face of such a traumatic experience. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of taking all allegations of abuse seriously and the need for swift action to protect the vulnerable.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Miriam Hinman and Sanaa Nagi. The investigation and prosecution of this crime were a collaborative effort between multiple agencies, demonstrating the commitment to justice and the protection of the public.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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