Ex-MP Craig Kelly‘s adviser Frank Zumbo found guilty of indecent assault

A former political staffer to ex-MP Craig Kelly has been found guilty of sexual misconduct and indecent assault against four female employees while he was their boss.

Frank Zumbo has been found guilty of sexual touching and indecent assault at Downing Centre Local Court.

A brave victim has spoken about the empowering moment she was allowed to tell her story of sexual misconduct that she and her colleagues endured from a former political staffer to ex-MP Craig Kelly.

Francesco “Frank” Zumbo, 56, pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of sexual touching and indecent assault charges after five women made allegations pertaining to their employment with Mr Kelly between 2014 and 2020.

Zumbo had denied all allegations and claimed no sexual conduct occurred.

On Friday, Magistrate Gareth Christofi found Zumbo guilty of seven charges of aggravated indecent assault with a victim under the authority of the offender and one charge of assault with act of indecency.

He was acquitted of two sexual touching charges related to one complainant and multiple back-up common assault charges at the Downing Centre Local Court.

Frank Zumbo during his hearing.

One of the women who spoke outside of court said she was “massively relieved” to hear the verdict five years after talking to police.

“It is still just as scary to see him in person but it is nice to know I’ve finally stood up to him,” she said.

“I felt so empowered to give my evidence and I wanted to be here to look at him again, that was important to me.

“Rather than being scared, I thought, ‘no, you did this to me and now I get to tell people’.”

The woman was still shocked about the unprofessional workplace culture Zumbo fostered and encouraged any other woman to speak out because they were not alone.

“If it wasn’t for the first girl coming forward he might have gotten away with it,” she said.

“Knowing we spoke on behalf of so many other women out there is a really good feeling.”

Zumbo with his lawyers.

The court heard secret recordings some of the women made where Zumbo repeatedly badgered them for lengthy periods questioning their loyalty to him.

Mr Christofi said Zumbo spoke to the women in an “interminable, incessant and oppressive” way where he would cut them off and persist despite their reluctance to speak to him.

He also said the recordings showed he had a “sexual interest” in the women where he repeatedly said he was attracted to them; rejecting Zumbo’s claims he was talking about their political prospects.

Mr Christofi said the relationships were not professional because of Zumbo’s age and power imbalance because he could fire them, adding they were “grossly lopsided,” “abusive and manipulative relationships”.

The court previously heard Zumbo met some of the women – many of whom had political aspirations – in his capacity as a university professor and offered them work experience in Mr Kelly’s office.

The court heard Zumbo had a common social greeting with the women in the office where he would hug and kiss them, telling them it was part of his Italian culture, despite their discomfort.

Zumbo will be sentenced in March.

One of women gave evidence that Zumbo told her she had a “sexy accent” and “I’m going to fall in love with you” during their first meeting.

She said he also asked if she would “sleep with a terrorist to prevent an attack” and asked if she was a “good kisser” before hugging her, which was the basis of the assault with an act of indecency charge.

Zumbo moved his lips very close to another woman as he hugged her from the side, making her feel, “violated, angry and embarrassed”.

In another alarming incident, Zumbo and the woman sat on a Sydney park bench when he put his arm around her, pulled her close to him and kissed her on the cheek while his penis was exposed.

Zumbo was found guilty of hugging a third woman her for several minutes in the car while she did not reciprocate while on another occasion Zumbo grabbed a cardigan off her legs and put his hand on her thigh.

Mr Christofi found Zumbo guilty of touching and squeezing the breasts of another woman when he would hug her despite her telling him it hurt.

Zumbo also touched her on the vagina over her pants where he rubbed her thigh and crotch area and on another occasion “stole” her first kiss on the lips.

Zumbo will remain on bail and will be sentenced on March 26.“