A former bishop in the state’s north-west has been charged with five more historical sex offences dating back to 2016.
Christopher Saunders, 74, was already charged with two counts of sexual penetration without consent, 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault and three counts of indecently dealing with a child as a person of authority.
Former Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders.
Those assaults allegedly occurred in Broome and Kununurra between 2008 and 2013. Saunders has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has always denied any wrongdoing.
On Thursday, WA Police said the former bishop faced five new charges of unlawful and indecent assault as a result of further investigations.
Police allege Saunders sexually assaulted a 24-year-old man in 2016.
He will appear in Broome Magistrates Court on December 23 on the new charges, and is back there in January to fight the previous charges, which are likely to go to trial.
His arrest follows several raids on his home by police and comes after WA Police received a report from the Vatican detailing allegations of sexual assault and grooming against the cleric.
Saunders began working in Broome as a deacon in 1975 and became bishop in 1996.
He resigned from his post in 2021.
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