German Businessman Jailed For Endangering Malaysia Airlines Crew

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia), May 14 (Bernama) -- A German businessman was sentenced to one month in prison Wednesday for endangering a Malaysia Airlines steward aboard MH 0179. Dietmar Ross, 54, admitted acting in an aggressive manner towards Phuah Soh Kin, 48, during the flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Colombo, Sri Lanka at 11.45 pm on May 9. Ross, in prison uniform appeared calm in court and nodded and replied, "Yes I plead guilty," when the charge under Regulation 70(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1969, was read to him in English. Judge Aizatul Akmal Maharani who sat as magistrate ordered Ross' sentence to run from his arrest on May 10. According to the facts of the case, the businessman had left his seat in the business class and approached the steward for whisky. As the seat belt sign was still on, Phuah did not serve Ross the drink but advised him instead to return to his seat. However, the passenger lost his temper and hurling offensive words at Phuah, demanded to see the pilot. Phuah and the rest of the crew, with the assistance of other passengers managed to restrain Ross before alerting Captain Mohammad Saifullizan who decided to veer the plane back to KLIA. Earlier in mitigation, lawyer Zaflee Pakwanteh asked for the minimum fine, saying it was his client's first offence, which had resulted from a misunderstanding with the crew. However, deputy public prosecutor Uma Devi Balasubramaniam asked for a deterrent sentence as Ross' actions had put the steward's life in danger and deliberately ignored his instruction. -- BERNAMA