Former Australian Defence Force member turned alleged sex cult leader James Davis has been charged with slavery and sexual servitude offences after being arrested last Thursday.
Davis, 40, is currently facing three charges including reducing a person to slavery, possessing a slave and causing a person to enter into or remain in servitude. Investigators have alleged that Davis called himself the “patriarch” of the cult known as the “House of Cadifor.”
Following the charges, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have urged anyone else who may have been a victim of the alleged sex cult to come forward.
“For those people who do know something about this particular case, whether they are victims, witnesses or have information, we encourage members of the community to report to the AFP,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said.
“I do hope that more complainants do come forward in relation to this matter.”
According to AFP allegations, Davis manipulated at least one woman between 2012 and 2015 for “cult”-like purposes.
The woman, who remains unnamed, was also allegedly subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse, as well as degradation.
Additionally, she was allegedly involved in prostitution while under the coercive control of Davis, but was not paid for her services.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner Gough asserted that the alleged victim was “coerced, manipulated and threatened to be involved in a bondage lifestyle”.
“She was in slave-like conditions,” she said.
In addition, the woman allegedly had to wear a “slave collar” and had a “slave tattoo.”
“There were aspects of possession, a slavery contract and there were aspects of a slave collar and a slave tattoo,” Gough said.
“She was threatened with physical abuse and threats of death if she left that circumstance.”
The arrest was prompted by a recent Four Corners investigation that shed light on the situation and interviewed Davis’ former partner, Felicity, who reportedly feared for her life.
Throughout the Four Corners interview, Felicity described multiple instances of alleged physical violence and psychological manipulation.
Following a search of his home, police say they found six women who had signed “slavery contracts” as well as a pile of evidence that is currently being analysed.
“During the search a number of documents, phones, camera, computers and other material was seized and that material is undergoing forensic analysis,” Gough said.
Davis is due in Armidale Local Court in New South Wales on Wednesday after being refused bail on Friday.
You can watch the Four Corners Enslaved investigation on ABC iView here.
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