Australian tennis great Bob Hewitt has been summonsed to appear in a South African court. Source: AAP
FORMER tennis doubles champion Bob Hewitt has been summonsed to appear in a South African court following allegations he sexually abused young girls he coached decades ago.
South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority told The Associated Press on Thursday that the summons had been served on the 73-year-old Australian on Saturday.
Hewitt was ordered to appear at Boksburg Magistrate's Court near Johannesburg on August 16, when he will learn what criminal charges he faces.
The NPA would not say what the charges are against Hewitt.
NPA spokesperson Phindi Louw said Hewitt, who is believed to live in the town of Addo on South Africa's south coast, would be informed of the charges when he appears in court.
Hewitt denied all the accusations when contacted by the AP.
Hewitt confirmed by telephone that he had received the summons and would "of course" appear in court, but wouldn't say what the charges were as "they had not been made public".
"I'll keep it private," he said. "I'm innocent of all charges and these accusations have caused untold hardship on my family."
Hewitt also said he intended to sue his accusers.
Hewitt has been at the centre of a long investigation into accusations he abused and raped girls as far back as the 1970s and through to the 1990s.
Recognised as one of the greatest doubles players of all time and a winner of 15 Grand slam doubles titles, Hewitt was indefinitely suspended from the International Tennis Hall of Fame last year due to the allegations.
When contacted by the AP on Wednesday, a man who identified himself on the telephone as Hewitt said he had no knowledge of any charges.
"I think it is best you call me in a month or so," he said, before declining further comment.
Two of Hewitt's alleged victims, Suellen Sheehan and Twiggy Tolken, accuse him of abusing them when he was their coach in South Africa.
Sheehan asked South African police to open an investigation in 2011, and accuses Hewitt of raping her when she was 12.
Tolken, who now lives in New Zealand, said Hewitt also began abusing her when she was 12.
A third woman, Heather Conner, of West Newbury, Massachusetts, also accuses Hewitt of abuse in the United States.
Conner said she was sexually abused from the age of 15, being forced to have sex with him near a high school in Massachusetts.
All three women agreed to be named by the AP.
Sheehan said she felt "numb" at the news that he was to appear in court and face charges.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Bob Hewitt to face South African court
Dengan url
https://petualanganseo.blogspot.com/2013/06/bob-hewitt-to-face-south-african-court.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Bob Hewitt to face South African court
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Bob Hewitt to face South African court
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar