Young sailor hog-tied and raped at his navy 'farewell ceremony', court martial told
A young male sailor was allegedly hog-tied, raped, assaulted with a rubber chicken and smeared with Vegemite and deep heat on his buttocks and genitals by a group of able seamen as part of a "farewell ceremony" on his last night aboard a Royal Australian Navy frigate in 2011.
On Tuesday, four marine technicians appeared before a Defence Force Court Martial in Sydney and pleaded not guilty to a string of offences including sexual intercourse without consent, forceable confinement and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The alleged attacks by Able Seaman Marine Technicians Rohan Martin Angre, Mitchell Mark Summers, Michael Daniel Thompson and Jonathan Lee Walter took place aboard HMAS Newcastle while it was off the coast of Western Australia in August 2011.
Prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel David Jordan told the court the incidents occurred on the complainant's last night at sea on HMAS Newcastle after a 12-month stint.
The complainant, who will give evidence via video link, cannot be named for legal reasons.
Lieutenant Colonel Jordan said the complainant was expecting something to occur on his last night because of the "long-standing tradition of playing pranks" on a sailor's last night.
But rather than a "harmless" prank, he was allegedly stripped and his wrists and ankles tied together by cable ties in front of a crowd of other sailors in the recreation space.
His buttocks and genitals were smeared with a substance alleged to be a mix of Vegemite and deep heat. Able Seaman Thompson allegedly pushed or tried to force a toy rubber chicken covered in the same substance into his mouth. An object was allegedly inserted into his anus, causing a burning pain, and he said he believed the object was the rubber chicken.
He was then lifted up and carried into the shower where Able Seaman Angre poured a dark liquid on the complainant's head, causing painful skin and eye irritation lasting two to three days.
At the start of the hearing, Able Seaman Angre pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over the shower incident.
Able seamen Summers, Thompson and Walter are charged with being knowingly concerned with Able Seaman Angre's assault using the liquid. Each have pleaded not guilty.
Lieutenant Colonel Jordan said the complainant told a friend about the alleged assaults but did not make an official complaint at the time.
He said the four accused would have known the complainant was not consenting because he called out "what the f---", "let me go" and "cut it out" during the assault.
An investigation was commenced in November 2013 after the complainant made comments to another friend, who made a report.
A panel of seven male navy personnel will decide the verdicts on each of the charges.
The defence is yet to open its case.
