Three more women have come forward to make allegations of sexual and indecent assault against embattled former real estate agent Anthony Di Nardo.
Di Nardo, 54, was represented by solicitor Drew Hamilton when he appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.
The former Belle Property franchise boss was arrested in December and accused of using his "position of power" to sexually and indecently assault five former female staff members over a 17-year period.
It came after a Newcastle Herald investigation and extensive police inquiries revealed a series of allegations against Di Nardo dating back nearly 20 years.
But on Wednesday, the DPP revealed more charges as three more women had come forward to make allegations of sexual touching, indecent assault and drug supply.
Di Nardo, who remains on bail, now faces 19 charges relating to eight alleged victims.
According to court documents, the charges include two counts of aggravated sexual assault, three counts of aggravated indecent assault, three counts of aggravated sexual touching, four counts of supplying small quantities of drugs and intimidation.
Prosecutors intend to withdraw five charges, including sexual intercourse without consent, which were laid after Di Nardo's arrest in December.
But those charges have been replaced with others that specify the women were under Di Nardo's authority as his employees at the time of the alleged assaults.
According to court documents, the fresh charges relate to the alleged sexual touching and indecent assault of three women between 2017 and 2022.
He is accused of touching the women on the buttocks or thigh while they were working for him.
Di Nardo is also accused of supplying small quantities of cocaine on four occasions, around the same time as some of the allegations of sexual and indecent assault.
He has not entered any pleas.
He will return to court in September after prosecutors and defence lawyers hold a case conference to negotiate the charges and determine how the matter will proceed to Newcastle District Court.
Di Nardo was arrested at his home in The Junction on December 9 last year after an investigation by the Herald revealed allegations that Di Nardo had sexually harassed and indecently assaulted female staff before Belle Property cut ties with him on November 28.
He was later granted bail, despite prosecutors saying there was a pattern of offending over a long period of time and Di Nardo had been in a "position of power".
