Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Sydney Swan Riley Bice has been cleared of any criminal conduct in the unfolding police investigation into the alleged sexual assault of exotic dancers at a Melbourne hotel last month.
A source with knowledge of the Victoria Police inquiry, but not authorised to speak publicly, also confirmed that detectives have finished a round of voluntary interviews with the four other Swans players but revealed some had not taken part in the process.
The source said Bice, 25, is now being treated as a potential witness in the case, which is now in its third week.
The other Swans stars at the centre of the incident – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey and James Jordon – all remain part of the police investigation.
The developments follow reporting by this masthead of the appointment by the players of different lawyers to represent their diverging interests, with at least three separate counsels now working for the men.
The source connected with the investigation said some in the group had declined to provide voluntary accounts of the fateful night at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne last month. Police can seek to interview them again at any time.
In a statement on Wednesday, Victoria Police confirmed three women had made a report about the night and detectives had this week travelled to Sydney to speak to four people.
“That process has now concluded,” the statement read.
“Investigators also spoke to or will speak to three men believed to be in the hotel room at the time of the incident, who are being treated solely as witnesses at this time.
“Police now believe they have now identified all parties who were in the room at the time of the alleged incident and are not looking for anyone further.”
Police said there was unlikely to be another update for about eight weeks.
Riley Bice’s manager refused to comment.
A spokesman for the Swans, in a statement issued after the update from Victoria Police, said: “We note that no charges have been laid and that police have indicated the process may take some time to run its course.”
“The wellbeing of those impacted remains of paramount importance,” the spokesman said.
“As it remains a police investigation, it is not appropriate to comment further.
“The club again extends its sincere apologies to our members and fans, sponsors and the wider community, along with all of our staff and players across both the women’s and men’s programs, for the distress and disappointment this matter has caused.”
Bice, a mature age recruit to the Swans via the 2024 draft, will remain under a suspension imposed by the club and separate to the police investigation. All five players have been ruled out for the rest of the Swans season for drinking, staying out late and inviting women back to the team hotel – a breach of the club’s behavioural standards.
On Monday, Sydney coach Dean Cox did not rule out the chance of the suspended group making a return to the club before the end of the season.
“There’s no timeframe on when they will return. We’ll keep talking about it each day, and assess the situation from there,” Cox told AFL 360 ahead of Saturday’s qualifying final against the Brisbane Lions at the SCG.
This masthead first reported in late August that there were allegations of multiple assaults allegedly occurring in the hotel room after a night of partying by the players following the Swans victory on Sunday, August 16 over Essendon.
The evening of celebration culminated in the three women being engaged as topless waitresses to perform in a suite of the hotel on a floor where the Swans players and officials were staying.
Former Pie and Swan Taylor Adams, who retired at the end of June, was at the hotel on the night with another unknown man, but this masthead is not suggesting that Adams was there when a sexual assault is alleged to have occurred. He has been repeatedly contacted for comment, but has not responded.
The women were asked to perform lap dances which they told the group would cost them an extra $250. After negotiating a cheaper price, one of the women suffered what she described as a medical episode and left the room.
After being unable to get back in, she ended up in the hotel lobby where there were heated scenes with baffled Swans officials who were gathering to fly home to Sydney, unaware of what had allegedly taken place in the room above.
The three women gave statements to police in the days following, but the five Swans were told that investigators were not ready to speak to them and allowed them to travel home to Sydney.
This masthead is not alleging any criminal behaviour by the Swans players, only that police are investigating a complaint.
This masthead has previously reported that detectives flew to the Harbour City to speak with staff including Cox, football boss Leon Cameron, head of player wellbeing and development Brett Kirk and head of media and communications Tom Chadwick, who all gave voluntary accounts of the night’s events.
Those four Sydney staff were not in the hotel room and no Swans officials are accused of inappropriate behaviour.
The players were ruled ineligible for All Australian selection and have also been banned from attending the upcoming Brownlow Medal.
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