Veteran Australian broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been charged with sexually abusing eight males over 20 years.
The 83-year-old was taken into custody at an condo in Sydney’s Round Quay early on Monday morning, as detectives from the New South Wales (NSW) Police Little one Abuse Squad searched the property.
Mr Jones faces 24 expenses for offences allegedly dedicated between 2001 and 2019, together with 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault.
Mr Jones is one in all Australia’s most influential media figures, and has beforehand denied allegations of abuse, first revealed by The Sydney Morning Herald in 2023.
He has been granted conditional bail, and can face court docket on 18 December.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated officers had been working “tirelessly” on what has been a “very complicated”, “protracted” and “thorough” investigation.
She added that police count on different alleged victims could come ahead, as usually occurs in circumstances like this.
“There is no such factor as a matter that is too outdated to be investigated,” she stated at a press convention.
“There isn’t a higher time to come back ahead than now and you’ll be listened to, and we’ll take your matter significantly.”
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 instances, labored as a speechwriter and advisor for Liberal Get together figures – together with former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser – and launched a number of failed bids to signify the celebration 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 largest 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 instances.
