Man accused of sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins in Australian parliament summonsed to court

Brittany Higgins.
Brittany Higgins. Photo credit: Getty Images

A man accused of sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins in a minister's office at Australian Parliament House has been summonsed to appear in court.

Higgins, a former Liberal staffer, went public in February with allegations she had been raped in the office of federal government minister Linda Reynolds when she worked at Parliament House. 

On Friday, ACT Police confirmed a 26-year-old man will face one charge of sexual intercourse without consent. 

He has been summonsed to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on September 16.

 

"Police will allege the man had sexual intercourse with a woman without consent at Parliament House on Saturday, 23 March 2019," they said in a statement.

Police said detectives from their sexual assault and child abuse team first received a report about the incident in April 2019.

"The investigation remained open and in February 2021 a formal complaint was made. Detectives have since spoken to a number of witnesses and collected evidence as part of the investigation.

"Officers today served the man's legal representative with a summons to appear before the ACT Magistrates Court. 

The maximum penalty for the offense of sexual intercourse without consent is 12 years imprisonment.

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