- Well-known figure in AFL circles accused of rape
- He appeared in a Melbourne court on June 14.
An AFL-linked figure who has been accused of raping a woman twice has been removed from the website of the company he works for, it has been revealed.
The man, who is a member of one of football’s most famous families, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on June 14, where his lawyer successfully argued that his name should be prevented from being published in the media until his next court date in July.
He is accused of raping his alleged victim twice on the night of Sunday, January 14 this year in Balwyn North, in Melbourne’s east.
A man with links to the AFL had his profile removed from his employer’s website days after being accused of rape (file image) revealed
He was charged by summons to the Box Hill Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse Investigation Team.
The man is charged with two counts of rape and also two counts of intent to pervert the course of justice.
Last Thursday the company that employs him deleted his profile on its website despite having left it active for five days since he was accused, the Herald of the sun reported.
The AFL and AFL Players’ Association declined to comment when the publication asked whether it was appropriate for the man to continue working with footballers despite the charges.
The secondary charges were filed after the man allegedly made a ‘fake Uber’ booking the following day in an attempt to conceal the alleged acts.
He is also alleged to have told another person to lie about his whereabouts and to suggest that another person committed the alleged crimes.
The media has been prohibited from revealing the identity of the accused man (file image)
The AFL and the AFL Players’ Association reportedly declined to comment on the case.
Psychiatric reports are understood to have played a role in the man’s defence, successfully arguing for his identity to be suppressed, as did the lack of a criminal record.
Another member of this man’s family is also well known in AFL circles and was involved in the awarding of the order.
The man was questioned by detectives earlier this year and appeared in court Friday wearing a suit and tie hours after being charged.
He was granted bail with conditions including that he remain in Australia.
He is scheduled to return to court in July.
