Former Sydney radio presenter Alan Jones has been charged with historic indecent assault and sexual contact offenses spanning two decades.
Jones was arrested at the unit in Sydney's Circular Quay at around 7.45am on Monday morning following a “long, thorough and protracted” investigation into allegations of indecent assault and sexual contact offenses spanning two decades. He was eventually arrested by New South Wales Police.
He was taken to Day Street Police Station in central Sydney and charged with a total of 24 offenses against eight victims. These include 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault (9 counts of assault involving the victim under the authority of the offender, 9 counts of sexual assault), and 2 counts of sexual assault. He was charged with touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault.
The incidents are said to have occurred between 2001 and 2019.
Police said the youngest victim was 17 years old at the time of the crime.
“As for the victims, the defendant alleges that he knew some of them personally and some of them professionally, and that some of the victims were meeting the suspect for the first time. “We insist,” said Michael Fitzgerald, head of the State Crime Command.
Police confirmed that at least one victim was employed by Mr. Jones or with Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones has previously denied all charges against him. Police spent three and a half hours searching Jones' harborside apartment on Macquarie Street, 300 meters from the Sydney Opera House and a few floors above the upmarket Aria restaurant.
Jones remained in the building while six police officers searched the apartment, and was escorted out of the complex's parking lot, away from media stationed in the building's green marble doorway.
He was taken to Day Street police station in the CBD just after 11am in the back of an unmarked police car.
Wearing a green jacket and carrying what looked like a cane, Jones said nothing and stared straight ahead as he and three other officers in a car drove past reporters and into the police station. was.
They joined lawyers Chris Murphy and Brian Wrench at the police station just before noon.
The arrest follows a months-long investigation by New South Wales Police. Police launched an investigation in March into numerous incidents of indecent assault and sexual contact between 2001 and 2019.
Mr Fitzgerald praised the investigators' “persistence and diligence in bringing this matter to court.”
“It is incredibly difficult to investigate historical issues like this and bring them to court, and I once again commend the ongoing progress of this investigation.”
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters on Monday that police expected more people may come forward, adding that the arrests were a “long, thorough and protracted process”. This is the result of an investigation.
“I visited the strike force a few weeks or months ago,” she said. “It is a very complex and long-term matter and I know our officers are working tirelessly.”
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Premier Chris Minns declined to comment on what he called a “massive investigation”.
“We need to allow the police to conduct this investigation without comment from me or anyone else,” he said.
Jones was granted conditional bail and will appear at Downing Center Local Court on December 18.
Jones hosted 2GB Breakfast Radio in Sydney for nearly 20 years. During that time, he was one of the most influential media personalities in the United States.
His radio career was marked by controversy, including comments that Prime Minister Julia Gillard lied and that her late father “died of shame” as a result. In 2019, he also made comments about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying someone should “shove a sock” down her throat.
Jones' career also spanned education, politics, and sports. After leaving school he trained as a teacher and worked in various schools in Queensland and New South Wales during the 1960s and 70s.
Before starting his career in radio, Jones tried to enter politics. He made several unsuccessful pre-election bids for the federal parliament and unsuccessfully ran for the New South Wales state assembly.
Jones served as speechwriter for Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser until 1981.
In 1984, Jones became coach of the Australian men's rugby union team, the Wallabies. The team achieved great success during his time at the helm.
