Robert Van Gestal, 76, formerly of Forestville, faces historic child sex assault charges
A man accused of historic child sex offences involving a six-year-old girl was released on bail after appearing in Manly Local Court.
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An elderly man accused of historic child sex offences involving a six-year-old girl was granted bail in Manly Local Court.
Robert Van Gestal, 76, allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl at Forestville in the mid-1970s.
Mr Van Gestal, who now lives at Park Orchards, a north-eastern suburb of Melbourne, was charged with five counts of assault female – commit act of indecency.
The offences allegedly occurred when the girl was aged between six and eight years old during a period from January 1974 to December 1976.
Documents tendered to court alleged Mr Van Gestal put his hand down the girls’ pants and bikini top and indecently assaulted her.
Police will also allege he made the girl touch his genitalia with her hand.
Detectives from Northern Beaches Police began investigating the allegations after the alleged victim contacted police in August last year.
Mr Van Gestal was arrested earlier this week in Melbourne and went before an extradition hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
Two Northern Beaches detectives flew to Melbourne and escorted Mr Van Gestal back to Manly.
During a bail application in Manly Local Court on Wednesday Mr Van Gestal’s lawyer said his client, who is yet to enter a formal plea, denied the charges.
Magistrate Mark Richardson released Mr Van Gestal on bail on condition that he report to Frenchs Forest police station each day and that he stay with his brother-in-law at an address in Forestville.
The brother-in-law was also asked to provide a financial surety of $10,000 that would be forfeited if Mr Van Gestal failed to turn up to court.
He will be back in Manly Court on February 26.