Man Accused of Assault on US Cruise Ship; Nepali Guard Injured

A federal grand jury in Alaska has returned an indictment charging a South African man with assaulting three people using medical scissors while aboard a cruise ship. The incident, which occurred on May 6, 2024, has raised serious concerns about safety and security at sea.

According to court documents, Ntando Sogoni, a 35-year-old South African national, was discovered attempting to deploy a lifeboat on the cruise ship. Crew members promptly took him to the ship’s medical area for evaluation. However, during the evaluation process, Sogoni reportedly became combative.

He managed to break free from the nurse and security personnel, fleeing to another examination room. There, he violently assaulted a female victim—a U.S. citizen—using trauma scissors. The victim sustained multiple stab wounds to her chest, arms, and head, resulting in serious bodily harm. Sogoni then turned his aggression toward two security guards.

Among the security personnel targeted was a Nepali guard. Sogoni stabbed this guard in the spine, causing significant injury. The other guard, a national of the Philippines, was also attacked and stabbed in the head. Their courageous efforts to subdue the assailant prevented further harm to passengers and crew members.

Sogoni was detained and held in the ship’s jail until the vessel arrived in Juneau on May 7. Upon arrival, he was charged by complaint and subsequently arrested by the FBI. The incident occurred while the ship was on the high seas, falling within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. The voyage had a scheduled departure from or arrival in the U.S.

“Sogoni is charged with one count assault with intent to murder in violation of 18 U.S.C. §7(1), (7) and (8) and 113(a)(1), three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in violation of 18 U.S.C. §7(1), (7) and (8) and 113(a)(3), and three counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in violation of 18 U.S.C. §7(1), (7) and (8) and 113(a)(6), The defendant made his initial court appearance on May 9 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska,” said U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska in a press release.

If convicted, Sogoni faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the assault with intent to murder charge and 10 years in prison along with a $250,000 fine for the other five assault counts. The sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, along with Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day from the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Supervisory Special Agent Brett Durham of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Resident Agency Juneau and Resident Unit Anchorage, made the announcement regarding the charges.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, FBI Juneau Resident Agency, and CGIS Resident Agency Juneau are actively investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt is prosecuting the matter.