Australian tv veteran and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been arrested following an investigation right into a collection of sexual abuse allegations.
New South Wales (NSW) Police mentioned detectives from the Child Abuse Squad took an 83-year-old man into custody at an residence in Sydney’s Circular Quay early on Monday morning, earlier than looking out the property.
A strike pressure was established in March to analyze a number of indecent assaults and incidents of sexual contact between 2001 and 2019, they mentioned in an announcement.
Mr Jones is considered one of Australia’s most influential individuals media figures and has beforehand denied the abuse allegations, first printed by the Sydney Morning Herald in 2023.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb mentioned officers had labored “tirelessly” on what had been a “very advanced”, “protracted” and “thorough” investigation.
He added that police anticipate different alleged victims could come ahead, as usually occurs in circumstances like this.
“There is irrespective of too previous to analyze.
“There is not any higher time to come back ahead than now and you may be heard and we’ll take your matter significantly,” he mentioned.
A former instructor, Jones coached the Australian nationwide rugby crew between 1984 and 1988, earlier than turning to a profession in radio.
He additionally generally labored as a speechwriter and adviser to Liberal Party figures – together with former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser – and launched a number of failed makes an attempt to symbolize the occasion in each state and federal politics.
For a long time a staple of Sydney’s airwaves on native station 2GB, Mr Jones juggled these duties with TV commentary gigs earlier than retiring from full-time work in 2020 citing well being points.
The station has been a polarizing determine, for years boasting one of many nation’s largest rankings however usually sparking controversy.
In 2012 he made headlines for suggesting that then-prime minister Julia Gillard’s father had “died of disgrace” and in 2019 he confronted an enormous advertiser boycott after saying somebody ought to “stick a sock” in throat of then New Zealand chief Jacinda Ardern. .
Mr Jones has additionally been efficiently sued for defamation a number of instances.
Police are anticipated to replace the media on the investigation afterward Monday.
