A 35-year-old South African cruise ship employee has been arrested in Alaska. Image: File/Fotor
South African cruise ship employee arrested by FBI
A South African cruise ship employee arrested by the FBI, following an alleged stabbing in international waters, could see 10-years in prison.
A 35-year-old South African cruise ship employee has been arrested in Alaska. Image: File/Fotor
A South African cruise ship employee arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) could face 10-years in prison and a $250 000 (R5-million) fine. USA Today reports that Ntando Sogoni (35) was arrested by the bureau on Tuesday (7 May 2024) after allegedly stabbing multiple people on board with ‘medical scissors.’
SOUTH AFRICAN CRUISE SHIP EMPLOYEE ARRESTED
The alleged incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning (5 May 2024) aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) ship called Encore. According to reports, Sogoni was working on the ship, travelling off the coast of Alaska when he attempted to disembark and the stabbings occurred. He was later arrested in the Alaskan town of Juneau. Sogoni had only boarded the NCL Encore in Seattle that day.
The US Attorney’s Office reports that other cruise ship employees had seen Sogoni attempt to deploy a lifeboat and flee the ship. Ship security responded to the alert and escorted him to the on-board medical centre for assessment.
ATTACKED GUARDS AND NURSES
Once in the medical centre, the report states the following. “Sogoni physically attacked a security guard and a nurse inside an examination room. He then proceeded to another examination room where a woman – a US citizen – was being examined. He grabbed a pair of medical scissors and stabbed the woman multiple times. This was in the arm, hand and face. He also stabbed two security guards who intervened. One in the head and one in the back and shoulders.”
It is not known if Sogoni was in his right mind or what the motive behind the stabbings were. He was detained in the ship’s jail before his arrest by the FBI. He is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. And, according to maritime jurisdiction, if found guilty, he faces 10-years in prison and a $250 000 (R5-million) fine.
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