Extradited man, 83, in court on sex charges

An 83-year-old man extradited from Australia to face historic sex abuse charges appeared in court in Wellington today.

Charles Kenneth Morgan faced six counts of indecent assault and one of inducing an indecent act when he fronted up in the High Court at Wellington this morning.

He was remanded in custody to reappear on August 27.

Australian authorities arrested Morgan in New South Wales last week on an extradition warrant.

New Zealand detectives flew to Sydney on Friday to accompany him back to Wellington.

The charges related to sexual abuse alleged to have occurred between 1954 and 1979.

Morgan moved to Australia in the late 1970s but was arrested when he came back to New Zealand for a holiday in 2004.

He was allowed to return to Australia after paying a $20,000 surety bond, on the understanding he would return to New Zealand to face any charges.

He failed to return to New Zealand for a trial in December 2005 telling the court he was too sick to travel.

- NZPA