Cruise ship worker charged with sex abuse after ship pulls into Seattle

A 26-year-old Indian national has been charged with two counts of abusive sexual conduct after allegedly molesting passengers on a cruise ship, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington.

Pranit Narayan Pawar was questioned by the FBI and arrested last week when Brilliant Lady, the cruise ship where he worked as a hairdresser, made port in Seattle, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office.

Pawar allegedly sexually molested multiple passengers under the guise of giving them a massage," according to the release, and was scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday.

While he was hired for hair services, during a recent cruise to Alaska, Pawar started to offer massages to women who had booked hair appointments, according to the release.

"In the two cases charged in the complaint, Pawar allegedly moved the victims into a small room next to the salon, and while offering a massage, Pawar allegedly moved his hands under the victims' shirt and onto their breasts," according to the release. "In at least one instance Pawar allegedly locked the door before assaulting the victim."

The case is in federal court, with the FBI handling the investigation because the allegations occurred "within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

Charges for abusive sexual contact are punishable by up to two years in prison.

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