TWO South Australian police officers have been charged with an alleged sexual offence in Victoria during the Black Saturday bushfire response.
The men appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court this morning. One was charged with rape and the other with indecent assault.
The alleged incident occured on March 11 in the outer Melbourne suburb of Croydon.
Croydon is about 60km from Marysville, Kinglake and Healesville, the sites of the deadliest Black Saturday fires.
They were bailed in the Adelaide Magistrates Court this morning and will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on May 13.
Both men were granted bail on a $500 surety and were barred from having contact with a list of 50 people, which includes fellow police officers.
Under South Australian law, AdelaideNow cannot identify the men.
The men have been suspended from duty by SA Police officials, who have said the offences were committed while they were off-duty.
SAPOL this morning released information about the charges after the men had appeared in court.
The charges follow an investigation by Victoria Police's Ethical Standards Department.
A spokesman for SAPOL said it was assisting Victorian police with their investigations.
Both SAPOL and Victoria Police are refusing to make further comment.
Todays' Adelaide Now website 7/5/09
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25442770-5006301,00.html
FFS - didn't I recently read an article where the filth are filth 24 hours a day and now suddenly it matters that they were off duty... ... $500 surety... ...
SA needs an ICAC - ASAP...
Are they innocent untill proven guilty in a Court of Law ???
