Two Indians charged with indecently assaulting teenage girls in NZ

21-year-old Pradeep and 24-year-old Harpreet have been charged over an alleged incident of indecent assault of teenage girls.

Indecent assault

The image is for representation only. Source: Pixabay

The police in New Zealand have revealed the identity of the two men accused of indecently assaulting two teenage girls at Mount Maunganui.

According to , 21-year-old Pradeep Jain and 24-year-old Harpreet Mavai were arrested and both men appeared before the District Court in Tauranga on Monday.

They have been charged with indecently assaulting teenage girls on a beach in the early hours of January 2.

The girls were allegedly approached by four men at about 12:30 am and indecently assaulted. The incident was reported to a passing patrol car.

However, the accused have refuted the allegations and claimed they just had an altercation with two boys accompanying the girls.

"The two boys with the girls were drunk and they were calling us names. While there was an altercation, the girls called the police. There was nothing of the sort being reported that happened," Pradeep told SBS Punjabi.

He said the footage from a nearby CCTV can prove their innocence, which they are trying to procure after they get a legal-aid lawyer.  

Both the men have been given bail and are due back in court on January 23. The bail is subject to very strict conditions, including surrendering their passports.


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2 min read
Published 11 January 2017 10:46am
Updated 11 January 2017 12:25pm
By Shamsher Kainth

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