CEBU CITY — A Vietnamese ship captain was arrested after he allegedly sexually harassed a lady Customs inspector at the Cebu International Port (CIP) here.
A VIETNAMESE ship captain was arrested for alleged sexual harassment at the Cebu International Port on Nov. 13. (Contributed photo)
Police said the incident happened while the 28-year-old complainant was conducting an inspection inside the MV Tay San 3 docked at CIP on Wednesday night, Nov. 13.
Police said the victim boarded the ship for an inspection as the vessel was scheduled to leave at midnight.
While aboard the vessel, the suspect invited the complainant to his office.
Police Chief Master Sgt. Elymar Mendoza, investigator of the maritime police, said that once inside the office, the suspect suddenly wrestled the victim, hugged her before grabbing her breast.
“The complainant did not expect what happened. The captain locked the door. He probably assumed that the inspector was attracted to him. The job of the inspector was to go inside the office but she was wrestled, that's why she had bruises,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza added that the inspector fought back by punching the suspect that enabled to wiggle free.
Police said it was the second time that the complainant boarded the vessel. She first inspected the vessel when it arrived on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
The suspect denied the allegations against him, saying he just invited the complainant to have some coffee in his office.
The victim said she could have forgiven the suspect if only he admitted his offense.
With the suspect denying any wrongdoing, the suspect decided to pursue legal charges against the ship captain.
Police said the suspect is facing a complaint for acts of lasciviousness.
The vessel was also held by the maritime police while the ship captain is dealing with the complaint against him.