Malaysian man Lay Ong has been convicted of abusive sexual contact of a minor following an incident on a Caribbean cruise in April.
While vacationing on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, Ong, 67, encountered the victim, 7, and a friend, 9, as they played in a hallway outside their room on April 2, according to a copy of the criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and viewed by People.
At the time of the incident, the boat was on international waters after it departed from Miami and headed to Honduras.
The complaint stated that a security DSLR captured a man, who appeared to be Ong, approaching the two boys and beginning a conversation with them. As the conversation continued, the security DSLR captured Ong appearing to touch the 7-year-old’s face and chin. Ong then escalated the interaction when he allegedly sexually abused the young boy by grabbing his private parts.
NFL Star Kris Boyd Shot Outside of New York City Restaurant: Everything to Know
“Ong leans forward slightly and extends his left hand, grabbing [the victim’s] genitalia,” the complaint stated.
The complaint said the boy then appeared to “back away” when Ong touched him before Ong simply walked away.
The victim and his friend went back to their room, where they told the victim’s mom what happened. According to the complaint, the two boys told the victim’s mother that Ong asked if they were “boys or girls.” After they said they were “boys,” Ong allegedly responded, “Let me check.” It was after that comment that Ong grabbed the boy’s genitals.
After the boys made the claims, the mother contacted security on the ship to report the incident.
The cruise’s security team watched the clip and tracked down Ong, who denied the claims made against him. He also alleged that he had been “playing” and touched the victim’s stomach, claiming he did not touch the young boy’s genitals.
Inside Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Legal Issues After His Mom Was Held Against Her Will in Home Invasion
Despite his claims that he was innocent, prosecutors charged Ong with abusive sexual contact on April 5. The case went to court, and a jury convicted Ong following a two-day trial.
“Abusing a child is an unforgivable act,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason A. Reding Quiñones said following the conviction, per People. “This verdict makes clear that anyone who preys on a child—anywhere, and under any flag—will be held to account.”
Ong is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2026.
About the Author
