A man charged with raping a teenage girl on an Adelaide bus has had a secrecy order placed over his identity after facing court over the horrific alleged attack.
South Australia Police allege the girl, whose exact age has not been stated, was travelling on public bus route 117 from the Adelaide CBD towards the western suburbs at about 3.30pm on Monday when she was sexually assaulted by a stranger.
A 33-year-old from Findon was arrested in Oakden on Thursday and refused police bail to face Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday on charges of gross indecency with or in the presence of a person under the age of 16, indecent assault, and engaging in sexual intercourse with a person without consent.
The accused was motionless and impassive in court as prosecutors asked Magistrate Alison Adair for the secrecy order, The Advertiser reported.
“The interim suppression order is sought for a period of two to four weeks to prevent prejudice to the proper administration of justice and prevent unfair hardship to witnesses,” the prosecutor said.
“As Your Honour would appreciate, our investigation is in its infancy. Further inquiries need to be conducted to ascertain further witnesses in this matter.”
The 33-year-old was remanded in custody and will face court again in June.
Header image: An Adelaide bus (South Australian Government).
