Prosecutors: Cruise ship worker groped sleeping woman

NEWARK, N.J. – Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say a cruise ship worker responsible for restocking guest room minibars groped a sleeping passenger then threatened to burn down the ship if she reported what happened.

Karan Seechurn was detained early Saturday upon the ship’s arrival in Bayonne.

He was remanded without bail following an initial court hearing on Monday afternoon.

Prosecutors say the attack occurred Dec. 23, when Seechurn used his room key to enter the woman’s cabin without her knowledge. They say she awoke to find Seechurn touching her genitalia and she pushed him away.

Prosecutors say the 25-year-old is from Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean.

He’s charged with abusive sexual contact.

This story was originally published December 29, 2014 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Prosecutors: Cruise ship worker groped sleeping woman."