The Complex Case of Alex Hartman and His Allegations Against Alan Jones

From his home in Switzerland, businessman Alex Hartman – once the wunderkind of the technology world and a protégé of prominent Australian broadcaster Alan Jones – alleged to this masthead in 2017 and the ABC a year later that Jones had indecently assaulted him as a young man. Jones vehemently denies this allegation.

Hartman also said he was weighing up whether to return to Australia to report Jones to the police over the alleged incident.

Hartman's Early Success and Downfall

In 1996, aged just 16 and in year 10 at school, Hartman had shot to national prominence as a tech whiz. At 17, while still a schoolboy, he was reported to have become a millionaire after selling his software company to Telstra for $1 million. The next year, aged 18, Hartman was featured on an episode of the ABC's Australian Story titled "The Next Big Thing?".

The episode promo read: "A young man who has been cutting million-dollar business deals since he was in short pants."

However, behind the scenes, things were not so rosy for the Hartman family. In December 2010, Alex's younger brother John Hartman was jailed for insider trading. At John's sentencing hearing, the judge noted: "Up until his final year at school, [John] had recorded a generally happy family life, but his situation changed dramatically when his brother Alex was diagnosed with serious bipolar disorder at the age of 18."

Over the subsequent years, Alex battled mental illness and rode the ups and downs of the tech industry with ventures such as Newzulu and Mytek.

Hartman's Allegations Against Jones

In 2015, according to a prominent media executive who spoke anonymously, Hartman called him while in New York and alleged that Jones had indecently assaulted him when he was a teenager. The executive claims he urged Hartman to go to the police at the time.

Three years later in April 2018, Hartman made the same allegation during a Zoom interview with ABC producer Ben Cheshire and then ABC news director Gaven Morris. Cheshire, who had produced the 1999 Australian Story episode on Hartman, made a record of the conversation which he shared with this masthead.

According to Cheshire's notes, Hartman gave a graphic description of being allegedly indecently assaulted by Jones in the broadcaster's then-Newtown home after Jones had invited the teenager over for dinner following his rise to fame.

The notes state that Hartman claimed he was terrified, scared, in shock and did not know how to leave the situation. Hartman also alleged that on another occasion when invited to dinner, Jones - wearing a red silk dressing gown - opened the door and exposed himself.

Furthermore, Cheshire recorded Hartman saying that Jones' alleged behavior was criminal, and that it had taken Hartman a long time to talk openly about the incident. The conversation ended with Hartman stating he wanted justice before Jones died.

Earlier Contact With Journalist Peter FitzSimons

Six months prior to the April 2018 ABC interview, Hartman had also contacted Sydney Morning Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons. He took FitzSimons to task over a rare favorable column the journalist had written about Jones, challenging FitzSimons' suggestion that rugby officials appoint Jones to coach a Barbarians team - which Hartman likened to putting Jones in his "candy store".

In his October 2017 email, Hartman claimed Jones had indecently assaulted him in an incident that had been "life-shattering". He also detailed his complex relationship with Jones, stating: "More than once, I have confronted him – he’s not easily confronted – or deterred. On the occasions I have been in particular distress, he has sent these ‘investments’," implying Jones had provided Hartman financial assistance over the years.

Corporate records show Jones, through his company Hadiac, did in fact invest $100,000 in Hartman's tech company Mytek in 2001 when Hartman was 21 years old.

In his email to FitzSimons, Hartman wrote: "I don’t think his hold over me will be gone until he dies and I will just have to live with it until then."


Further Contact and Jones' Lawyer Gets Involved

Two years later in September 2019, just weeks before his death, Hartman again emailed FitzSimons about the situation with Jones. Earlier that same day, he had received a concerning email from Chris Murphy, a well-known Sydney criminal defense lawyer stating he was acting for Jones.

In his email, Murphy warned Hartman that demanding money through threats was a criminal offense carrying up to a 10-year jail sentence. He stated that despite Hartman's "many times" contacting Jones with threats and demands, Jones "denies any wrongdoing of any kind".

Hartman forwarded Murphy's email and earlier correspondence with Jones' accountant to FitzSimons. The emails indicated Hartman was in significant financial difficulty with debts of €70,000 and had been asking Jones for assistance.

FitzSimons rang Hartman after receiving the emails. Hartman claimed Jones had texted him as recently as two weeks prior, addressing him as "Angel". He also told FitzSimons he couldn't believe Jones had gone from offering to pay him to outright denying the allegations and threatening legal action in just a fortnight.

At this time, Hartman again discussed potentially returning to Australia to press charges against Jones or to tell his story publicly. But sadly, his sudden death just weeks later prevented any further action.

Reactions to Hartman's Death

Hartman's October 2019 obituary read: "Our hearts are broken. Our loss is enormous. Our precious Alex passed away peacefully in his sleep, next to his wife Domi whom he adored." He was just 39 years old.

Since then, school friends of Hartman's have come forward confirming he told them about Jones' alleged inappropriate behavior. One friend from St Ignatius’ College Riverview said Hartman confided Jones had inappropriately touched his genitals during a visit to Jones' home, leaving him "shocked and traumatized".

Meanwhile, a former girlfriend recalled Hartman breaking down in tears on one occasion while claiming he was indecently assaulted. When she asked if he would go to the police, he said Jones was too powerful.

Other friends also told this masthead over the years Hartman had spoken to them about his allegations against the prominent broadcaster.

Jones' Legal Team Disputes Claims

In response to questions about the allegations, Jones' lawyer stated he "vehemently" denies the claims, adding Hartman was "a person who had a history of engaging in dishonest conduct".

While the truth of Hartman's allegations against Jones may never be fully known, his communications with various friends and journalists over the years suggest he firmly believed inappropriate behavior occurred. However, Jones continues to strongly dispute this version of events. Ultimately, Hartman's tragic death prevented any further action being taken against the broadcaster.

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