A Melbourne singer who was Tasered three times by Australian Federal Police on a Jetstar flight has revealed the reason behind the disturbing incident — he refused to sit in his designated seat after a fight with his girlfriend.
Bolic Malou, a “Sudan-born, Melbourne-based” singer known as Rockstar Bo La, was boarding a flight home from WA in March when he got into an argument with his partner in the airport terminal and pushed ahead of her in the queue.
The woman asked airline staff if she and their child could change seats to no longer be sitting with the musician and her request was granted.
When Malou, 30, realised his family had changed seats, he moved and sat with them and refused to get back up.
Three AFP officers were called in to help move him but attempts to return Malou to his assigned seat quickly descended into a turbulent arrest, captured on video by a fellow passenger.
The distressing footage showed Malou and officers in a physical altercation in the plane aisle, before Malou — who authorities believe was drunk at the time — tried to put one of the officers in a headlock and grab his taser.
He was eventually Tasered three times by police and was filmed collapsing into a nearby seat, shrieking and shaking, before he was dragged from the aircraft.
Malou was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing a Commonwealth public official.
AFP described the event as “one of the most serious incidents to occur on an aircraft in WA for some time”.
Malou previously told Channel 9 he was “humiliated” by the ordeal and said he intended to fight the charges.
“I was Tasered and carried out of the place,” he said.
“I felt like an animal. It doesn’t feel great in front of your one-year-old son.”
He appeared to change tack on Thursday and pleaded guilty to the charges but, speaking with reporters outside court, maintained he had “done nothing wrong”.
During his sentencing, Magistrate Elizabeth Woods told Malou, once AFP officers had the perception he wasn’t going to leave, “it was never going to end well”.
“Our officers and airline workers are there to ensure everyone has a safe journey. It’s important for the public to treat everyone at the airport with respect,” AFP superintendent Peter Hatch told the court.
“The AFP will continue to have zero tolerance for anyone choosing to behave poorly on aircraft, or in and around Australia’s airports.
“This kind of behaviour is unacceptable from any passenger. If the man had simply complied with the directions of airline staff and the police, the incident could have been avoided.”
Malou was fined $1500 and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond. It is understood his partner and child are now living in Sudan.