A company director, Anthony Lewy, managing director of Long Range Systems Australia, has been charged with four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The alleged assaults occurred on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Anthem of the Seas between November 26 and 27, while the vessel was sailing back to Sydney from Vanuatu.
Lewy, 50, has strongly denied the allegations made by his 20-year-old daughter, Mariah Lewy, a pop singer who performs as 'LEWY'. Mariah Lewy reportedly recorded a portion of the incident and sent the video to a friend, who then contacted police. The defense has indicated that additional footage will be presented to demonstrate that Lewy acted in self-defense.
These Commonwealth charges replace an earlier NSW charge of common assault and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which have since been withdrawn. The alleged incidents for the NSW charges were reported to have occurred between 11:50 p.m. on November 26 and 12:10 a.m. on November 27, near Coffs Harbour, on the NSW coast.
Lewy, who has no prior criminal record, was arrested in Sydney on November 28 and charged by Australian Federal Police. He has pleaded not guilty to the original NSW charges and has not yet formally entered pleas to the Commonwealth offenses. These matters are scheduled to be heard in August of next year, with witnesses, including family members who were on the cruise, expected to testify. Police have also sought an interim apprehended violence order to protect Mariah Lewy from her father.
Mariah Lewy is a Sydney-based singer-songwriter who has released three pop singles and collaborated with producers for artists such as Doja Cat and Lady Gaga. She recently appeared in a supporting role in "HAIR the Musical" at the Theatre Royal Sydney. Lewy's lawyer, Justin Lewis, stated that his client maintains his innocence and that the initial video does not present the full context of the events. "The initial snippet of video recording does not paint the full picture and we think the recently served evidence will show exactly what happened," Mr. Lewis told the Daily Mail.
Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship with a capacity of nearly 5,000 passengers. It was the largest ship based in the region for the 2025-26 summer cruising season. Lewy's bail conditions include residing at his Dover Heights address and refraining from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing, or intimidating Mariah Lewy. He is also prohibited from recklessly destroying property or harming any of her animals.
On December 29, Lewy posted on Facebook expressing dissatisfaction with Royal Caribbean's service and security. Lewy and his daughter had spent Halloween in Los Angeles weeks before boarding the cruise, according to social media posts.