Flak for woman who accused MAS steward of sexual assault on telly
Social media users have lashed out at Laura Bushney, the Australian woman who went on TV, accusing a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chief steward of sexually assaulting her while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Paris on August 4, claiming that her story sounds far-fetched.
In comments retrieved from the Facebook page of Sunday Night – the programme on Australia's Channel 7 where Bushney had appeared in – many expressed doubts over her story, questioning how she had managed to record the act on her mobile phone.
"It's really rubbish. She did it for one thing. Money. Besides ruining the reputation of an innocent man," said Jessica Greenhill's comment, which was followed by more than 300 others in the Facebook page.
The 26-year-old Bushney had said in the programme that the steward had "begged me not to report the incident, while we were still in the air, as he had a wife and a child".
She said the steward took advantage of her fears about flying on MAS following the MH370 and MH17 incidents by sitting next to her and first massaging her legs, then placing her legs on the lap. She alleged that he was aroused at the time.
Bushney said the steward then put the hands under her blanket and felt her up in her pants, inserting his fingers into her private part.
She claimed to have been in shock and but kept thinking later: "Why didn't I scream, why didn't I shout?
"I am a strong person because I can do that, I know I can. But when I was in the moment, I couldn't. I felt so scared and petrified," UK's Daily Mail quoted her as saying on the programme.
Another social media user Tanya Pearce, who commented on the same page, saying that she believed Bushney had allowed it to happen in order to get compensation from MAS.
"I believe she allowed it to happen. She wasn't really crying. I don't know how she was in fear but did not scream.
"What could he (the chief steward) have done in a plane full of passengers? I think it was to get compensation," she said.
Alexandra Shand said Bushney's allegations, which she had watched on TV, seemed false and made her turn to a different channel.
"I am happy that I am not the only one who thought there was something weird with this story," she said, referring to the more than 1,000 comments left on Sunday Night's Facebook page.
Another Facebook user said Sunday Night had sensationalised Bushney's allegations following the MH370 and MH17 disasters that hit MAS recently.
"If it was not MAS, this story would not have been aired. So, don't say you are doing it for her (Bushney) when the real reason is to gain viewers," said CJ Booth.
Others hit out at Bushney over the recording of the incident, saying that it did not make sense when facing a critical time.
Instead of recording the episode, they said that Bushney should have taken action to avoid it from happening.
"She can take a phone and record but couldn't scream or hit out. I see her as dishonest," said Michelle Durban.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) today claimed that the chief steward who has been accused of sexually assaulting Bushney had not admitted to his guilt.
"Unsupported allegations are extremely painful for the family of the crew member and such allegations are also affecting the morale of other MAS crew members,” the body said in a statement today.
It said that authorities should carry out a thorough investigation into the allegations as fast as possible following Bushney's appearance on Sunday Night, even before the probe was completed.
“The complaint should be expeditiously completed so that the truth will prevail.” – August 25, 2014.
