A Christchurch man accused of multiple sex abuse offences has been found living in a popular Australian tourist spot, after previously avoiding trial due to ill health.
Former carpet salesman Ronald Thompson, 69, was due to face trial in 2023 on 18 charges relating to alleged sexual abuse against six victims.
The case was haltered after medical evidence presented to the court said he had been referred to a palliative care team and had only months to live.
NIne's A Current Affair have reported Thompson is now living in a waterfront apartment in Maroochydore, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Video footage appeared to show Thompson moving around independently without requiring assistance, including climbing several flights of stairs while out walking his dog.
When questioned by reporters about his health, Thompson denied he had recovered enough to return to New Zealand to face trial.
"I haven’t made any recovery," he said, claiming a holiday to the Philippines in January was only possible because he used a wheelchair.
Footage of Thompson during his stay the Philippines appeared to show him sitting on a balcony smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
Thompson was a prominent figure on NZ television screens in the '90s, where he promoted his carpet company Ron’s Discount Carpets.
He was charged with 18 counts of sexual offending against six alleged victims, four girls and two boys, between 1981 and 2002. The charges included indecent assault and rape, A Current Affair reported.
After a suppression order was lifted in the Blenheim District Court in 2024, a further six alleged victims came forward to police.
One of Thompson's alleged victims told Nine's A Current Affair she was angered Thompson had been able to evade the justice process.
"He's obviously not dying," she said. "I would hope that he's sent back to New Zealand and he's tried for this. He needs to answer to it."
Thompson has vehemently denied any of the alleged offences.
Australian Federal MP Andrew Wallace, whose electorate includes part of the Sunshine Coast, said the Department of Home Affairs should consider cancelling Thompson’s visa and deporting him.
Under Australian law, visas can be cancelled if a non-citizen is considered a potential risk to the health or safety of the community.
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