A 71-year-old British national has been charged after allegedly assaulting a fellow passenger on a cruise ship near Sydney earlier this week.
The man boarded the ship in Sydney before it set sail. On Wednesday, while the vessel was at sea, he allegedly attacked another passenger. The crew turned the ship around, and police charged the man upon its return to Sydney on Saturday.
Detective acting Superintendent Trevor Robinson of the Australian Federal Police said safety on international vessels was paramount. 'The repercussions of alleged criminal behaviour remain even when an offence occurs at sea,' he said.
'Where Australian law applies under the Crimes at Sea framework, the AFP will move swiftly to investigate incidents and bring alleged offenders before the courts,' Robinson added.
The man has been charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm. He is scheduled to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on February 18.
