2 charged in Australian army sex scandal

2011-04-29 14:08

Sydney - Two young men were charged on Friday over a sex scandal within a prestigious Australian military college which led to a review of the treatment of women in the armed forces.

Canberra police said the two men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested early on Friday at the Australian Defence Force Academy over the March incident in which a female cadet was allegedly unknowingly filmed and broadcast having sex.

"Police will allege that... a female cadet was recorded without her consent engaging in consensual sexual intercourse," Australian Capital Territory police said in a statement.

Both men have been charged with using "a carriage service to cause offence", a crime which covers the abuse of any electronic communications service. The older man was also charged with an act of indecency.

They were due to face court later on Friday.

The arrests follow national outrage after the 18-year-old female cadet took her story to the media, claiming she had sex with a fellow classmate who allegedly broadcast the encounter on Skype so his friends could watch.

The incident led to a police probe and several government inquiries, including one into the treatment of women in the military.

It also triggered a wave of complaints from former military members alleging sexual abuse, beatings and other misconduct within the defence force.

Another inquiry into allegations of misconduct on board the supply ship HMAS Success uncovered a culture of drinking and predatory sexual behaviour.

- SAPA