By Joshua Boscaini for ABC
Alan Jones, left, with lawyer Chris Murphy alongside.
Photo: ABC News / Keana Naughton
Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones’s lawyer has criticised a senior police officer and confirmed his client will defend himself against historical indecent assault and sexual touching charges.
On Monday, NSW police executed a search warrant at the 83-year-old’s Sydney harbourside home and charged him with 24 offences involving eight alleged victims spanning two decades.
The charges included 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, nine counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent and two counts of common assault.
NSW police said he knew some of the alleged victims personally and professionally, and the youngest complainant was aged 17 years old when the alleged offences occurred.
Some of the complainants met Jones for the first time when the alleged offending occurred, police said.
Alan Jones has been charged with 24 historical indecent assault and sexual touching offences.
Photo: ABC News / Keana Naughton
‘This is a matter for a courtroom’
Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said Jones’s bail was issued on “certain conditions”.
“[Those conditions] are to protect the [alleged] victims and [they’re] not to be contacted or harassed, and there are also travel restrictions on the basis of him ensuring that he will appear before the court,” he said.
The assistant commissioner said media reporting resulted in some information coming forward to police and led to the creation of Strike Force Bonnefin.
“This information and a number of witnesses have been assisting police over the years,” he said.
“Bonnefin and the energy that was generated out of those newspaper articles have provided the ability for police to put these matters before the court.”
Assistant Commissioner Fitzgerald commended the alleged victims for their “bravery” and for allowing the matter to be brought to court.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said media reporting resulted in some alleged victims coming forward to police.
Photo: ABC News / Monish Nand
Lawyer Chris Murphy told the media that Jones would “assert his innocence” in court.
“He denies any misconduct. This matter will be defended,” Murphy said.
“Mr Jones will be defending this case. He’s presumed innocent.”
Murphy said Assistant Commissioner Fitzgerald’s praise of alleged victims during a press conference was “contemptible”.
“I think it’s totally contemptible of the assistant commissioner of police to be praising the witnesses who he might like to call victims,” he said.
“This is a matter for a courtroom and I believe he is in terrible breach of that.”
NSW police declined to respond to Murphy’s criticism.
Police believe more people will come forward
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said police anticipated more people may come forward with complaints.
“I can’t speculate in this particular case, but what is often the case is when it is known – the full circumstances and those parties involved – other people may come forward, and we are anticipating that other people may come forward,” Commissioner Webb said.
NSW police told the ABC that Jones’s passport had been confiscated over fears he would leave the country and not return.
Assistant Commissioner Fitzgerald said the strike force would continue in anticipation of more information being provided.
“We believe that will have more people coming forward with information,” he said.
“Strike Force Bonnefin will continue and they are currently talking to people and will continue to talk to people.”
Dressed in a green tracksuit and flanked by his lawyer, Jones was swarmed by a large media pack as he exited the Day Street Police Station in Sydney’s CBD.
He remained silent as reporters peppered the veteran broadcaster with questions and he was guided into an awaiting vehicle.
Jones was released on bail and is expected to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 18 December.
-ABC