TWO Indian men allegedly involved in the violent sexual assault of three teenage girls on the NSW north coast have fled the country on Friday, February 6, 2015.
A THIRD man, 22, has been arrested and charged over the assault, which allegedly happened at a home in Woolgoolga, north of Coffs Harbour.
Three girls, two aged 16, the third aged 15, told police they were sexually assaulted by three men on February 5 after being groomed on Facebook. The alleged assaults were violent and alcohol-fuelled, police said.
All three offenders are Indian international students, who were travelling through the region.
The 22-year-old was arrested on Monday and charged with indecent assault and attempted sexual assault without consent. He will face Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday. Police have also charged a fourth man, 24, with being an accessory after the fact. They will allege in court that he helped two of the men, both foreigners, get to Queensland, where they boarded a flight out of the country.
Woolgoolga Sikh community thanked for its help with sexual assault investigation
Coffs-Clarence Police have thanked Woolgoolga’s large Sikh community for its help with an investigation into alleged sexual assaults in the area late last week.
Coffs-Clarence Crime manager, Detective Inspector Darren Jameson said the local Sikh community has been extraordinarily helpful.
“We have strong working relationships with the Indian community based in the Coffs-Clarence area,” he said.
“A large number of them have been continually assisting us throughout these inquiries.
“Quite frankly without the community’s support in the Woolgoolga area, we would not have been able to bring this matter to a conclusion so quickly.”
Detective Inspector Jameson said despite police attempts to prevent it, two other suspects have flown to China.