JOHANNESBURG – The court case against Lions defence coach Joey Mongalo - after being charged for indecently assaulting a Sydney hotel worker - got underway in Australia’s biggest city on Thursday.
According to a report on the Sydney Morning Herald website, Mongalo is said to have forced a 26-year-old concierge to touch him indecently in a building stairwell while he stuck a finger from his free hand in her mouth.
The alleged assault is said to have happened at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Sydney while the Super Rugby Lions were on tour in Australia in April this year.
A friend of the victim testified on Thursday, detailing what the victim had told her had happened at the hotel on April 23, days after the Lions had beating the Waratahs and before their match in Brisbane against the Reds.
Lions defence coach, Joey Mongalo, speaks at an event in 2017. Photo: Twitter: @Ca1Adrian
CCTV footage of Mongalo approaching the concierge also played in court, according to the report.
The hearing continues.
The Golden Lions, of which Mongalo is also the defence coach, will play in the Currie Cup semi-finals against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.