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Thursday, December 26, 2024

Alan Jones facing fresh indecent assault charges

Alan Jones has been hit with fresh charges relating to a ninth alleged victim as the veteran broadcaster awaits his first court date since his bombshell arrest.

The 83-year-old was charged with 24 offences against eight people on Monday after being arrested at his Harbour Bridge-view apartment.

A day later, police said Jones had been charged with an additional two counts of assault with an act of indecency involving a ninth person.

The charges came after detectives received further legal advice, investigators said.

Jones was silent when he left a police station in the centre of Sydney on Monday afternoon after the initial charges were laid.

The high-profile broadcaster, who wielded political and public influence on the airwaves for decades, faces allegations including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault where the alleged victim was under his authority.

The charge carries a maximum seven-year jail term.

The alleged offences took place between 2001 and 2019.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said the work of the task force that began investigating Jones in March wasn’t over.

“We believe that we will have more people coming forward with information,” he said on Monday.

“(Investigators) are currently talking to people and will continue talking to people.”

Jones was granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on December 18.

His lawyer Chris Murphy said his client would be defending the charges.

“He’s presumed innocent,” Mr Murphy told reporters outside the Sydney police station as Jones sat behind the tinted windows of a Lexus.

Police alleged a teenager, an employee and people who had never met Jones previously were among Jones’ victims.

The youngest of the complainants was 17 at the time of the alleged crime.

Jones began his hugely successful broadcasting work in 1985 after a failed political career and became a feared interviewer who excelled at grilling leaders while dominating the airwaves with his outspoken, conservative views.

He worked with Sydney radio station 2UE before joining rival 2GB, where he was a long-time ratings juggernaut.

Jones’ most recent broadcast work was for the digital platform ADH TV but he hasn’t been on-air since November 2023.

He also coached the national men’s rugby union team between 1984 and 1988.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

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