Police receiving more complaints over Wellington musicians accused of sexual assaults

By Hamish Cardwell for RNZ

Police have reports of about 20 incidents involving the group of Wellington musicians accused of sexual assaults, they say, in the first update on the matter in weeks.

The allegations include rape, sexual assault and violence. Police said inquiries were continuing, and no charges had yet been laid.

About a dozen investigators were working on the case, they said, and anyone with information should contact them.

When police opened the investigation, dubbed Operation Emerald, last month they said they had received a small number of complaints.

The investigation began after a woman made allegations online, and said in a follow-up post she had received more than 100 responses from women, men, and minors.

They detailed similar attacks included druggings, being chased by the men, sexual assaults and rape of people who were sleeping or passed out, physical violence and threats.

A Wellington nightclub worker then came forward to RNZ to say 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.

RNZ

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