24 Nov 2020

Wellington musician assaults: No complaints yet from men, minors - police

6:21 pm on 24 November 2020

Police have provided more details about an investigation into a group of Wellington musicians accused of sexual assaults.

Police generic

Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Online allegations made against the men include rape, sexual assault and violence.

Yesterday police confirmed to RNZ they had reports of 20 incidents relating to its investigation, dubbed Operation Emerald, but refused to provide any other details.

They said when they opened the investigation last month they had received a small number of complaints.

Today they confirmed that all the complaints were from women over the age of 16.

They said the complaints all related to alleged sexual offending and assaults over an 18-month period.

Police say inquiries were continuing, no charges have been laid, and people should contact them if they have information.

A man who challenged the group of musicians, and was one of the first to speak out about their behaviour told RNZ today he expected the number of complaints to rise even further.

The man, who RNZ has agreed not to name, challenged one of the group members after a friend of his was threatened.

Last month a Wellington nightclub worker told RNZ he had reported one of the people accused to police months ago for trying to sexually assault a woman in an establishment's bathroom.

Another man in the capital believes he stopped a woman being sexually assaulted by two of the people accused.

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