Veteran Australian broadcaster Alan Jones, 83, has been charged with 24 offences related to historical indecent assaults and sexual touching incidents spanning nearly two decades. The allegations involve eight alleged victims, with the youngest being 17 years old at the time of the alleged assault. The charges include 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault where the alleged victim was under his authority, nine counts of assault with an act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent, and two counts of common assault.
Jones was arrested at his luxury apartment in Circular Quay, Sydney, following a complex and thorough investigation by the State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad, which established Strike Force Bonnefin in March to investigate these allegations. The investigation was prompted by media reports that led several alleged victims to come forward.
Jones has denied the allegations through his lawyers, with his current lawyer, Bryan Wrench, representing him. He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on December 18.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and other officials have commended the investigators and the alleged victims for their bravery, emphasizing that historical matters are hard to investigate but that victims will be listened to and taken seriously[1][2]
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