NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- A Somali suspect in the hijacking of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama last month pleaded not guilty to 10 counts including piracy , hostage-taking , and firearms charges in U.S. District Court in New York on Thursday . Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse arrived in the United States on April 21 . Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse faces life in prison if convicted in any of eight of the 10 counts , according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York . The U.S. Navy took Muse into custody April 12 after the hijacking in the Indian Ocean . He arrived in the United States April 21 . At his arraignment Thursday , Muse stood before Judge Loretta Preska wearing navy-blue prison garb and a bright orange undershirt . The defendant appeared dejected as he listened to the proceedings through the voice of an interpreter , looking downwards at his lap and feet most of the time . The indictment charges Muse with eight counts that each could carry a maximum sentence of life in prison : piracy , possession of a machine gun while seizing a ship by force , hostage-taking , conspiracy to commit hostage-taking , possession of a machine gun during hostage-taking , kidnapping , conspiracy to commit kidnapping , and possession of a machine gun during kidnapping . The remaining two charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars : seizing a ship by force and conspiracy to seize a ship by force . Defense attorney Phil Weinstein asked the court for time for the defense to conduct its own investigation into the case , and the judge agreed , setting the next hearing date for September 17 . Weinstein then expressed concern over Muse 's treatment under incarceration , alleging that prison officials were administering medication to him without proper consent and were denying him phone calls to his family in Somalia . Weinstein also expressed concern about Muse 's detention conditions . `` He 's been held in administrative segregation since his arrest , which means he 's detained alone for 23 out of 24 hours a day , '' Weinstein told reporters gathered outside the courthouse . `` He 's unable to communicate with anyone except for us . '' Muse 's defense team was joined outside the courthouse by Idd Beddel Mohamed , deputy permanent representative to Somalia 's mission to the United Nations in New York . He told reporters his government is monitoring the proceedings and working with the federal public defenders to ensure proper legal protection for Muse . `` We have full confidence in the U.S. legal system and we believe justice will be served , '' Mohamed told reporters . See timeline of events that led to piracy case » . There had been questions about Muse 's age , with his father in Somalia telling defense attorneys his son was only 15 . But , a U.S. magistrate judge ruled that Muse is in fact older than 18 and can be tried as an adult . Still , the defense team continues to raise questions about Muse 's exact age . They say they are working with Mohamed and other Somali officials to try to secure proper documentation of Muse 's birth date . Pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama , a cargo ship , April 8 about 350 miles off the Somali coast , according to the criminal complaint . They boarded the ship after firing gunshots , according to crew members quoted in the complaint . Muse was carrying a gun and was the first alleged pirate on the ship , the complaint said . According to the complaint , Muse fired his gun at the Maersk 's captain , Richard Phillips , and then took $ 30,000 from the ship 's safe after he forced Phillips to open it . A Maersk crew member managed to tackle Muse and tie his hands , leading to a deal with the pirates : They would leave the ship if Muse was returned to them and if they got a life boat , the complaint said . Phillips boarded the life boat with them and the ship 's crew freed Muse , who then boarded the life boat , according to the criminal complaint . Over the next three days , the life boat floated near the Maersk with the U.S. Navy 's USS Bainbridge nearby . On April 12 , Muse boarded the USS Bainbridge and demanded safe passage for himself and the other pirates in exchange for Phillips ' release . But while he was aboard , Navy SEALs , or special forces , shot and killed the three remaining pirates and freed Phillips . The criminal complaint said Muse `` conducted himself as the leader '' of the pirates who allegedly took over the Maersk Alabama . Still , defense attorneys said they believe Muse will be exonerated in the end . `` The complaint says that [ Muse ] requested ... from the Americans to come aboard the Navy ship , and they granted him that permission , '' defense attorney Fiona Doherty told reporters Thursday . `` And from there , that 's where he was trying to negotiate for the safe release of Captain Phillips . ''
Indictment alleges eight counts that carry life sentence . Defense granted time to conduct its own investigation . Judge ruled earlier that piracy suspect will be tried as an adult . Comment: