Newcastle Evangelical Preacher Gary Forbes Set to Plead Guilty to Sexual Abuse Charges

By Giselle Wakatama
ABC News
November 2, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-02/tnewcastle-preacher-set-to-plead-guilty-sexual-assault-charges/7987816

PHOTO: Former Christian Radio boss , Dr Gary Forbes, has been charged with several sexual abuse offences. (Giselle Wakatama ABC)

An evangelical preacher and former Christian radio station boss intends to plead guilty to several sexual abuse charges, a Newcastle court has heard.

Earlier this year Doctor Gary Alexander Forbes, 73, was charged with seven offences relating to two men.

The charges include two counts of assaulting a male and two counts of committing an act of indecency.

He was also charged with five counts of performing an indecent act on a male, relating to both men in the Newcastle suburb of Hamilton between 1960 and 1966.

The Christian pastor and former Rhema FM Newcastle station manager had his case mentioned in Newcastle court today.

The court was told there would be some guilty pleas, while several charges were expected to be dropped.

There will be a committal hearing for sentence on November 16.

Forbes remains on bail ahead of that hearing on the condition he lives at his home, and does not go within 50 metres of his alleged victims' homes.

The court was previously told Forbes has no criminal convictions or no criminal associates.

Evangelical preacher prominent in Australia and overseas

As well as having a high profile as an evangelical preacher in Australia, he has been prominent overseas.

His website said in 1986 he accepted an appointment as Asia-South pacific director for the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association.

He said over the ensuing six years, he flew in and out of Australia every six weeks directing and overseeing major evangelistic campaigns in major cities in Asia, the Pacific and Africa.