Frank Zumbo: New charges laid against Craig Kelly’s staffer
The right hand man to ousted federal MP Craig Kelly is facing new sexual offence charges after a fifth complainant came forward to police with allegations about his conduct.
St George Shire Standard
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The right hand man to ousted federal MP Craig Kelly is facing new sexual offence charges after a fifth complainant came forward to police with allegations about his conduct.
Frank Zumbo, 54, was charged with multiple sexual touching and indecent assaults charges in June 2021 after a lengthy investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against four women aged 27, 26, 23 and 16 between 2014 and 2020.
Days before a hearing was set to begin at Downing Centre Local Court, police laid two new charges in relation to a fifth complainant, who the St George Shire Standard understands to be an adult.
Zumbo had already pleaded not guilty to 18 offences – nine counts of common assault, two counts of aggravated sexual touching, and seven counts of aggravated indecent assault.
He has now pleaded not guilty to two new offences pertaining to the fifth complainant – one charge of indecent assault and a back-up charge of common assault.
The hearing will begin on Wednesday after the prosecution sought a day’s adjournment to prepare in light of the new charges and associated material.
Respected silk Carolyn Davenport of Samuel Griffith Chambers will represent Zumbo, instructed by solicitor Michael Moussa of National Criminal Lawyers.
Zumbo – who denies the allegations – is a close confidante of Mr Kelly and was the longstanding chief of staff at the former MP’s Hughes electorate office in Sutherland.
Mr Kelly lost his seat in the parliament at the 2022 Federal Election, after he defected from the Liberal Party and ran against them for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party.
He was usurped by Jenny Ware – a local solicitor who took his place as the Liberal candidate and reclaimed the electorate for the Opposition.
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