Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones is facing dozens of charges after allegedly indecently assaulting a series of victims over a near-20-year period. or signup to continue reading The 83-year-old, once one of Australia's most powerful media figures, was taken into a police station in the back of an unmarked car on Monday morning to answer historical allegations involving eight people. The complex, months-long police investigation culminated in his arrest as investigators searched his luxurious unit overlooking Sydney Harbour at Circular Quay.
Investigators later confirmed he had been charged with 24 offences, including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault where the alleged victim was under his authority. Jones also faces nine counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching a person without consent and another two counts of common assault. Jones was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on December 18.
The youngest of the complainants was 17 when the alleged assault took place, police said. Jones' arrest followed a months-long investigation into allegations aired in Nine newspapers the talkback host repeatedly used positions of power to abuse young men. Authorities anticipated other alleged victims could come forward following Jones' arrest, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb earlier said.
"This is a result of a very long, thorough, protracted investigation ...
I did visit the strike force some weeks and months ago to look.