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Allegedly uncooperative tourist contests charges
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Posted on Oct 02 2004
A tourist who allegedly went berserk inside a Saipan-bound aircraft that was on flight last Sept. 11 contested the criminal offense lodged against him by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Liu Shijun, assisted by lawyer G. Anthony Long, pleaded not guilty to a count of interference with flight crew members and attendants during his arraignment at the U.S. District Court Thursday.
Chief Judge Alex R. Munson remanded Liu back to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. The court set the case for trial beginning Nov. 22.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Bowers formally charged Liu in federal court last Wednesday. He said Liu “assaulted and intimidated flight crew members and attendants…and interfered with the performance of [their] duties, and lessened their abilities to perform [them].”
The incident happened during a China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai, China to Saipan, Bowers said.
“If a plane heads or leaves the United States, we have jurisdiction,” Bowers said.
The federal prosecutor said the charge lodged against Liu carries a maximum prison term of 20 years.
Earlier reports said the tourist fought with two flight attendants during the flight. Liu reportedly got up from his seat and walked toward the front portion of the aircraft, prompting the flight attendants to ask him where he was going.
Liu allegedly said that he would use the restroom. He became combative when the flight attendants told him to use the lavatories at the aircraft’s rear portion. The attendants attempted to escort him back to his seat but the passenger struggled with them.
According to the FBI, one of the flight attendants sustained a broken nose, while another had bruises and black eye. Commonwealth Ports Authority police personnel took custody of Liu upon the flight’s arrival at the Saipan International Airport.
