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The Australian Defence Force has been hit by another sex scandal with a soldier due in court this morning over an alleged sexual assault.
The Royal Military College Duntroon in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith
Source: The Daily Telegraph
DEFENCE has been rocked by another sex scandal with a 23-year-old soldier arrested early yesterday over the alleged rape of a 21-year-old woman at the army’s elite Royal Military College, Duntroon.
An ACT police statement said that the man, a member of the Australian Army, was known to the woman and entered her residence within the grounds of the army’s elite officer training college before 2am yesterday and sexually assaulted her before fleeing.
He was found by ACT Police detectives and Military Police about 5am and taken to the ACT watch house.
At 2pm yesterday he was formally charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
He will be detained until he appears in the ACT Magistrates Court tomorrow.
The Australian Defence Force and the office of Defence Minister Stephen Smith refused to confirm which service the attacker belonged to, but sources told News Limited that he was in the army.
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The latest sexual offence follows last year’s so-called “Skype sex scandal” at the neighbouring Australian Defence Force Academy when a young female air force cadet was secretly filmed having sex with an army cadet.
That triggered six formal inquiries and generated about 1000 complaints of sexual assault and bastardisation at military training academies stretching back 50 years.
Army officers attend RMC Duntroon after completing their undergraduate courses at ADFA.
Only Defence members or civilians living with them can occupy government-funded housing within the grounds of Duntroon.
Defence sources were unable to say if the woman was the partner or a daughter of a Defence member.
The ADF confirmed that one of its members had been arrested and charged with alleged sexual offences and that Australian Defence Force Investigators were assisting the Australian Federal Police in their investigation.
“As the matter is before the civilian courts it would not be appropriate for Defence to make further comment or to speculate on the investigation, charges, court proceedings or possible civil outcomes,” Defence said.
For legal reasons, comments cannot be published on this matter.