Ketut Pujayasa sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for cruise ship rape

Holland America cruise ship employee attacked woman in stateroom, tried to throw her overboard

MIAMI – A cruise ship employee who pleaded guilty to raping a passenger and trying to throw her overboard has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.

Ketut Pujayasa, 29, was sentenced this week in federal court.

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Pujayasa was arrested by the FBI in February after the Holland America cruise ship returned to Port Everglades.

Federal investigators said Pujayasa confessed to the Valentine's Day crime, saying he was punishing the 32-year-old woman because he believed she had insulted him and his family.

Pujayasa used a telephone cord and cord to her curling iron in an attempt to strangle the woman in her stateroom. The struggle spilled onto the balcony, where Pujayasa tried to throw her overboard.

At some point during the attack, Pujayasa knocked her unconscious and raped her.

Investigators said Pujayasa, who worked as a room service attendant, used his master key to enter her room.

Pujayasa is expected to be deported to his native Indonesia after serving his sentence.

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