Hostel Owner Arrested For Allegedly Drugging and Filming Guests
- 10 years ago
A New Zealand hostel owner has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting men who stayed at his establishment.
A New Zealand hostel owner has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting men who stayed at his establishment.
"Police believe that the victims are mainly overseas tourists aged between 18 and 25 and they may not know that something bad has happened to them but they may have the suspicion."
[Via – 3NEWS]
56-year-old Michael Harris has been charged with 39 offences against 16 adult males, aged between 18 and 25. The assaults occurred over the duration of two and a half years.
According to police, Harris filmed the alleged attacks. The male guests had been drugged.
"One of the victims has been drugged and it relates to a charge of aggravated wounding."
[Via – Sky News]
Now police are asking any other possible victims to come forward. Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston explained “These victims are unlikely to know that something has happened to them, although they may have suspicions.”
Harris’ charges include ‘indecent assault, aggravated wounding; and making intimate visual recordings.’ Many of the alleged victims stayed in the primary building of the Main Street Lodge, which is located in the town of Kaitaia.
The affected guests were mostly tourists from differing countries including England, Scotland, Germany and the United States. However some of the men are from New Zealand.
Main Street Lodge has 16 rooms with a total of 65 beds. The facility is marketed towards backpackers and offers hotel spaces and extended stay accommodations in what was Harris’ residence.
Local residents are stunned about the allegations, as they knew him as a friendly man who loved to talk.
A New Zealand hostel owner has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting men who stayed at his establishment.
"Police believe that the victims are mainly overseas tourists aged between 18 and 25 and they may not know that something bad has happened to them but they may have the suspicion."
[Via – 3NEWS]
56-year-old Michael Harris has been charged with 39 offences against 16 adult males, aged between 18 and 25. The assaults occurred over the duration of two and a half years.
According to police, Harris filmed the alleged attacks. The male guests had been drugged.
"One of the victims has been drugged and it relates to a charge of aggravated wounding."
[Via – Sky News]
Now police are asking any other possible victims to come forward. Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston explained “These victims are unlikely to know that something has happened to them, although they may have suspicions.”
Harris’ charges include ‘indecent assault, aggravated wounding; and making intimate visual recordings.’ Many of the alleged victims stayed in the primary building of the Main Street Lodge, which is located in the town of Kaitaia.
The affected guests were mostly tourists from differing countries including England, Scotland, Germany and the United States. However some of the men are from New Zealand.
Main Street Lodge has 16 rooms with a total of 65 beds. The facility is marketed towards backpackers and offers hotel spaces and extended stay accommodations in what was Harris’ residence.
Local residents are stunned about the allegations, as they knew him as a friendly man who loved to talk.