Australia police arrest former radio show host for alleged indecent assaults

Australian police on Monday arrested former radio show host Alan Jones over allegations he indecently assaulted, groped or inappropriately touched multiple young men over almost 20 years, media reported.

Jones, 83, has been hosting radio shows for about four decades and anchored the popular Sydney breakfast show on radio station 2GB for about 18 years until 2020.

Police confirmed the arrest of an 83-year-old man in Sydney but did not name him. He was widely identified by Australian media as Alan Jones and TV footage on Monday showed him in a police car arriving at a police station.

Reuters could not determine contact details for Jones to seek comment. He had denied similar allegations against him in a newspaper report last year.

Jones is well known in Australia for advocating conservative ideas, grilling prime ministers on the air with sharp questions and he has been the subject of several legal suits for defamation.

Jones is a former coach of Australia's national rugby union team and a speech writer in the office of former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.

In a statement, the New South Wales state police said child abuse squad detectives arrested an 83-year-old man in Sydney following an investigation into alleged indecent assault and sexual touching offenses between 2001 and 2019.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb said "a very long, thorough and protracted investigation" led to the arrest, adding she expected more victims to reach out to the police.

"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," Webb told reporters.

Jones, who has been working at a digital start-up since leaving 2GB, has been off the air since last year after the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported police were investigating allegations he indecently assaulted young men.