A-League and Western Sydney Wanderers star Ruon Tongyik charged with aggravated sexual assault in company
- One-time Socceroo charged with aggravated sexual assault
- The incident is said to have occurred in 2018
- Lawyer said Tongyik would fight the charges
A former Socceroo accused of being involved in an alleged rape that left a woman with bodily harm has appeared in court on the eve of the 2023/24 A-League season.
Western Sydney Wanderers star defender Ruon Tongyik, 26, has been charged with aggravated assault in a business occasioning actual bodily harm in connection with an alleged incident in Mount Druitt in the city’s west almost five years ago.
He faced Penrith Local Court on Friday, just two days before the Wanderers’ season opener against Wellington Phoenix.
Police alleged in court documents that Tongyik and another man sexually assaulted a woman who cannot be identified on November 24, 2018, despite knowing she had not given consent.
He is accused of “recklessly causing actual bodily harm” to the woman, according to police documents submitted to the court and obtained by The Daily Telegraph.
Former Socceroo Ruon Tongyik, 26, has been charged with aggravated assault in a business causing actual bodily harm
Police allege the A-League star (pictured playing for the Central Coast Mariners in the 2021-2022 season) sexually assaulted a woman in 2018
On Friday, the case was adjourned for a brief status report.
Tongyik did not speak to reporters outside the courthouse, but his attorney Bobby Hill of Hanna Legal made a statement on his behalf.
“Mr Tongyik will vigorously defend these allegations,” Mr Hill told The Daily Telegraph.
“He’s looking forward to clearing his name, putting on his boots and getting back on the field.”
Tongyik remains on bail under strict conditions, including the obligation to report daily to Waverley police station.
He also had to surrender his passport, use only one phone and stay at his home in Bellevue Hill while the case continued.
Tongyik was arrested at his home on August 17 and initially refused bail before it was granted hours later by Magistrate Ross Hudson at Waverley Local Court.
The football star has represented Australia five times, twice for the Socceroos in 2021 and three times for the Australian U23 team in 2017 and 2018.
Ruon Tongyik (pictured) has not been included in Western Sydney Wanderers’ squad for Sunday’s season opener
He was loaned out to Iranian side Mes Kerman earlier this year before recently returning to the Wanderers for the upcoming season.
He previously played for Melbourne City, Brisbane Roar and the Central Coast Mariners before joining the Wanderers last season.
He played four A-League matches in 2022-2023.
Tongyik was named in the Wanderers squad for their Round of 32 Australia Cup on August 9, just over a week before his arrest.
He is under contract with the Western Sydney Wanderers until June 2024.
His profile remains on the Wanderers website ahead of the club’s season opener against Wellington Phoenix at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
Tongyik has not been included in Wanderers’ squad for the match.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Wanderers for comment.
The case heard at Penrith Local Court was adjourned on Friday for a brief status report