Former NSW minister Milton Orkopoulos stands trial over allegedly drugging, sexually abusing four boys

A court has heard allegations that four boys were drugged and sexually abused by former New South Wales government minister Milton Orkopoulos between 1993 and 2003.

Key points:

Milton Orkopoulos pleaded not guilty to 28 offences

Mr Orkopoulos denies drugging and abusing four boys

He spent 14 months on Labor's front bench

Mr Orkopoulos pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 28 charges relating to the four boys aged between 11 and 14.

Mr Orkopoulos stands accused of multiple charges of having sexual intercourse with minors.

The offences allegedly occurred when Mr Orkopoulos served as a Lake Macquarie City councillor, as well as when he was the Swansea MP.

The District Court was told the boys had allegedly been given drugs before being sexually or indecently assaulted.

In her opening address, Crown prosecutor Cate Dodds said it was the Crown's case that Mr Orkopoulos demonstrated a pattern of behaviour.

"He acted in an opportunistic manner by engaging in sexual acts with them and supplying them with drugs," she said.

The charges include counts of aggravated indecent assault, aggravated sexual assault and supplying prohibited drugs.

Mr Orkopoulos was also charged with trying to pervert the course of justice by getting an alleged victim to sign a statutory declaration retracting an allegation of sexual abuse.

The court was told he allegedly sexually assaulted his victims at Caves Beach, Swansea and Belmont, as well as at Seal Rocks on NSW's Mid North Coast.

Drugs and alleged abuse

Ms Dodds told jurors Mr Orkopoulos would offer his alleged victims cannabis via a joint or in a bong.

The jury was told he took drugs with alleged victims in his car and, in several cases, in his electorate office where he allegedly offered to "shoot up one boy with heroin".

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-01/former-nsw-minister-milton-orkopoulos-trial-alleged-sexual-abuse/102031598

corrupt aus courts wil let him off