Veteran Australian broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been charged with sexually abusing seven males and a 17-year-old boy.
The 83-year-old was taken into custody at his Sydney house early on Monday morning, as detectives from the New South Wales (NSW) Police Baby Abuse Squad searched the harbour-front property and seized digital gadgets.
Mr Jones is certainly one of Australia’s most influential media figures, and has beforehand denied allegations of abuse, first revealed by The Sydney Morning Herald in 2023.
He now faces 24 expenses over offences allegedly dedicated between 2001 and 2019, together with 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault.
Police mentioned a number of the alleged victims knew the radio titan personally, and that at the least one had been employed by him.
Others have been allegedly assaulted the primary time they met him, NSW Police’s Michael Fitzgerald informed reporters.
“I want to commend the victims and their bravery in coming ahead. [They] have now received the power to have a voice. That is what they have been asking for,” he mentioned.
Commissioner Karen Webb earlier mentioned police had carried out a “very advanced”, “protracted” and “thorough” investigation, and anticipated different alleged victims might now come ahead.
“There is not any such factor as a matter that is too outdated to be investigated,” she mentioned at a press convention.
“You may be listened to, and we are going to take your matter critically.”
Mr Jones has been granted conditional bail, and can face court docket on 18 December.
A former instructor, Mr Jones coached Australia’s nationwide rugby union staff between 1984 and 1988, earlier than pivoting to a radio profession.
He additionally, at occasions, labored as a speechwriter and advisor for Liberal Celebration figures – together with former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser – and launched a number of failed bids to signify the occasion in each state and federal politics.
A staple of Sydney airwaves on native station 2GB for many years, Mr Jones juggled these duties with TV commentary gigs earlier than he retired from full time work in 2020 citing well being points.
The broadcaster is a polarising determine, for years boasting one of many nation’s greatest audiences however usually courting controversy.
He made headlines in 2012 for suggesting that then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s father had “died of disgrace”, and in 2019 confronted a large advertiser boycott after saying somebody ought to “shove a sock” down the throat of New Zealand’s chief on the time, Jacinda Ardern.
Mr Jones has additionally been efficiently sued for defamation many occasions.
