A 73-year-old Indian national received a nine-month jail sentence on April 2, 2025, after pleading guilty to molesting four Singapore Airlines cabin crew members during a flight from San Francisco to Singapore.
Balasubramanian Ramesh admitted to four counts of molestation, with three additional counts taken into consideration for his sentencing. Court records showed he targeted the victims because he found them “attractive.”
The offenses occurred on November 18, 2024, over approximately 14 hours during the 17-hour flight. The first incident happened around 3:30am Singapore time when Balasubramanian stroked the buttocks of a 25-year-old air stewardess over her clothing as she pushed a meal cart past his seat.
About five minutes later, he molested a second victim, a 26-year-old stewardess, stroking her buttocks twice over her clothing. Court documents revealed that between 3:20am and 6am, Balasubramanian molested this second victim three more times.
At 9:30am, he placed his hand on the right upper thigh of a 31-year-old stewardess over her clothing while she was assisting a nearby passenger.
The final incident took place around 5:30pm when Balasubramanian placed his hand on the left upper thigh of a 29-year-old stewardess over her clothing as she was helping a passenger adjust their seat for landing.
When confronted by the fourth victim, Balasubramanian denied touching her. After the flight landed at approximately 6:45pm, a report was filed at the SIA Control Centre, and the case was referred to the Airport Police Division. Balasubramanian was arrested the same day and charged in court on November 25, 2024.
During sentencing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ashley Chin sought a jail term of between 9.5 and 12.5 months, noting that Balasubramanian had “intentionally touched the buttocks and thighs” of four air stewardesses and “repeatedly and brazenly molested the first victim on a total of four occasions.”
The prosecutor highlighted that the offenses being carried out on board an aircraft and against air transportation workers were aggravating factors. The victims’ identities are protected by a gag order.
Defense lawyer Rezvana Fairouse requested a lighter sentence, pointing out that the offenses did not involve skin-to-skin contact and mentioning Balasubramanian’s “positive contributions” to society as a former bank manager in India.
District Judge Toh Han Li rejected the defense’s argument that the offenses were committed in the “spur of the moment,” noting they occurred over a 14-hour period.
For each count of molestation, an offender can be jailed for up to three years, fined, or caned, or receive any combination of such punishments. Balasubramanian cannot be caned as he is over 50 years old.
