Disgraced MP Rory Amon has been seen in public for the first time since being charged with a series of child sex offences he allegedly committed against a 13-year-old boy.
Amon, 35, was seen leaving Dee Why police station on Sydney’s northern beaches after turning up for bail at around 7.30pm on Sunday, shortly before the 8pm deadline.
He resigned from his seat in the New South Wales state electorate of Pittwater on Friday, just hours after being charged with assaulting a teenager he knew in Mona Vale in 2017.
The charges include five counts of having sexual intercourse with a person over the age of 10 and under the age of 14, and two counts of attempting to have sexual intercourse with a child over the age of 10 and under the age of 14.
He was also charged with two counts of indecently assaulting a person under 16 and committing an indecent act with a person under 16.
Amon revealed his whereabouts for the first time on Sunday night after his lawyers appeared in Manly Local Court on Friday afternoon and attempted to prevent the media from identifying him and reporting on the allegations.
The application was withdrawn and dismissed.
He emerged from the police station with his bail papers in hand and sporting what appeared to be a freshly trimmed haircut.
NSW MP Rory Amon (pictured) appeared for his first bail report at Sydney’s Dee Why police station on Sunday night after being charged with child sex offences.
He quickly got into a waiting car and stood impassively before placing his forearm over his eyes to avoid the cameras and driving away amid chaotic scenes.
Earlier, an elaborate decoy was set up to help Amon evade the large media contingent waiting outside.
Another man, disguised as Amon, exited the police station from the front wearing a gray hoodie and a similarly styled baseball cap.
Amon was instructed to exit through the rear. Several vehicles were also used to try to help him exit the area undetected.
Amon’s strict bail conditions include reporting to police daily.
He is not known to have returned home since the charges were filed on Friday.
He was due to referee Saturday’s Shute Shield rugby final between Eastern Suburbs and Northern Suburbs but was replaced at the last minute.
The Shute Shield Grand Final is the pinnacle of Sydney rugby and the premier club rugby competition in Australia.
Amon was due to help referee the premiership final as the No. 5 referee at Leichhardt Oval but the New South Wales Rugby Referees Association was forced to find a last-minute replacement following the allegations.
On Friday, Amon issued a statement maintaining his innocence and confirming his resignation from the New South Wales Liberals.
“Today I have been charged in relation to events that allegedly occurred in 2017,” he said.
Amon quickly climbed into a waiting car and appeared impassive before placing his forearm over his eyes to avoid the cameras and driving off amid chaotic scenes (pictured).
I deny all the allegations and will defend my position in court, not in the media. Therefore, I will not comment further on the case.
‘The nature of the charges against me is such that I will no longer be able to fully represent my community in parliament.
As a result, I have resigned as Member for Pittwater, effective immediately.
Amon said his constituents deserved a representative who could dedicate himself to the community.
“As I am defending myself against these charges, I will not be able to devote my full energy to representing them,” he said.
‘Thank you to everyone who has supported me.
‘It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent my community on Northern Beaches Council since September 2017 and as the Member for Pittwater since March 2023.’
Amon must report to police once a day and cannot communicate with the alleged victim or any prosecution witnesses as part of his strict bail conditions.
He is due to appear in Manly Local Court on September 18.
Another man dressed as Amon emerged from the police station from the front wearing a grey hoodie and a similar style baseball cap (pictured).
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman confirmed he called for Amon to resign when he learned of the charges on Friday morning.
“The charges against Rory Amon are extremely serious,” he said in a statement.
‘Upon learning of these charges, I requested and received Mr. Amon’s immediate resignation from the Liberal Party.
‘While Mr Amon is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the criminal trial will take some time to take place and in the meantime the citizens of Pittwater are entitled to a Member of Parliament who can fully carry out their duties in the community.’
The investigation relates to reports of a sexual assault in Mona Vale, on Sydney’s northern beaches, in 2017.
“Police have been informed that a teenage boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man, known to him, at an address in Mona Vale,” a NSW Police spokesman said.
‘In March 2023, the NOORAL Strike Force was established to investigate the incident.
‘Following extensive enquiries, a 35-year-old man was arrested at Manly Police Station at approximately 6am today.’
The MP resigned from his seat in the New South Wales electorate of Pittwater on Friday, just hours after he was charged with assaulting a teenager he knew in Mona Vale in 2017.
Rory Amon unsuccessfully attempted to evade the media at Dee Why police station on Sunday night.
Amon was elected to the seat of Pittwater at the 2023 state election, replacing outgoing minister Rob Stokes.
He became Shadow Deputy Minister for Transport and Roads, Shadow Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Shadow Deputy Minister for Youth.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb was asked about the charges in the budget estimates on Friday.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak asked Ms Webb if she could brief parliament “on the proceedings and charges in relation to Mr Amon’s allegation”.
“He is currently in custody pending a court appearance. Will the police support a bail application?” he asked.
“That’s for the bail sergeant to decide,” Ms. Webb replied.
“A bail sergeant… makes the determination, and that’s the bail sergeant’s decision,” he said.
New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley was also unaware of the charges.
“This is new to me,” he said at the hearing.
