AUSTRALIA
Broken Rites
By a Broken Rites researcher (article updated 13 February 2015)
Christian Brother William John Obbens (also known as Brother “Dominic” Obbens), now aged 69 and living in Sydney, will face four charges of indecent assault of “persons under 16 under authority” when his case has another mention in court in March 2015. Police allege that the offences were committed on two boys, then aged 13 and 12, in the late 1980s, while Brother Obbens was a teacher at St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College in Goulburn, south-western New South Wales.
Obbens was arrested at his Sydney home on 11 December 2014 by detectives from Goulburn (in a special unit called Strike Force Charish). The investigators are Senior Detective Dave Turner and Senior Detective Michael Callegha. A leading officer in the Goulburn Detectives Office is Detective Sergeant Matt Woods.
This case had its first mention in Goulburn Local Court on 22 December 2014 when the prosecutors officially filed the charges against Brother Obbens relating to one boy. The court granted an adjournment, during which the prosecutors and the defence were to exchange some court documentation.
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