NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man has been indicted on a charge of sexually abusing a sleeping woman on a cross-country flight.
Federal prosecutors charged Bawer Aksal (BOW'-ur ahk-SAHL') of North Bergen with sexual abuse in an indictment Thursday.
Prosecutors say a woman on an Aug. 20 flight from Phoenix to Newark awoke to find Aksal's hands inside her blouse and shorts.
Aksal has denied through his attorney that he abused the woman.
A
federal magistrate in Newark set bail Thursday at $100,000 and ordered
that if he is freed, Aksal must remain in home detention and wear an
electronic monitor.
Prosecutors argued Aksal, a Turkish-born U.S.
citizen, is a flight risk. Aksal's attorney said his client is a Kurd
who fled persecution and has no desire to return to Turkey.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
