A SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) steward has been held in Abu Dhabi on suspicion of raping a colleague at a hotel there.

The airline yesterday said a member of its cabin crew was detained by the authorities in the United Arab Emirates, following allegations made against him by another crew member.

The victim is said to have been a relatively new recruit, although the suspect is supposedly more senior and in a supervisory role.

The man and his alleged victim are said to have served on the same route between Singapore and Abu Dhabi, but arrived in the city one day apart.

The incident is said to have occurred last Saturday and the victim made a police report there.

According to Chinese evening newspaper Lianhe Wanbao, the man is married with a young child and his wife is pregnant.

It is believed a hotel worker let the suspect into the victim's room.

The Straits Times understands the victim arrived back in Singapore soon after the alleged rape was reported. The accused is still in remand in Abu Dhabi.

'Singapore Airlines is providing both the crew with the maximum possible support,' said the airline's spokesman Stephen Forshaw.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Sept 5. 2008.

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