Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, who is battling sex trafficking, rape, and sexual assault charges

Following a court appearance on Tuesday, Mike Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, who is facing allegations of sexual assault, rape, and sex trafficking, was freed on a $10 million (£7.7 million) bail. Matthew Smith, his British companion, is still being held. Another defendant in the case, James Jacobson, was released on a $500,000 bail. According to the BBC, they are expected to make another court appearance on Friday.

Police were first alerted by media reports, particularly from the BBC, according to federal prosecutor Peace. A civil action alleging Jeffries and Smith of rape, sexual assault, and sex trafficking was launched in New York after the BBC’s findings.

According to the complaint, Jeffries was the CEO of a sex-trafficking organization that Abercrombie & Fitch supported.

One of the accused victims’ civil attorneys, Brad Edwards, called the arrests “a huge first step toward justice.” He said, “The unprecedented reporting of the BBC, coupled with the lawsuit our firm filed detailing the operation, are to credit for these monumental arrests.”

What was the purpose of the inquiry?

Twelve men who claimed to have either organized or attended sex acts for Jeffries and Smith between 2009 and 2015 were questioned by the BBC as part of their investigation. According to the study, several of these guys were recruited by an intermediary known as James Jacobson.

Last month, further accusations appeared, with some victims saying Jeffries’ staffers gave them injections of what they claimed to be liquid Viagra. According to the BBC, Jacobson, 71, rejected any forceful or dishonest behavior via his attorney.

A number of people told the BBC that they were unaware of the sexual nature of the events or were misled about them. Others said that in return for going, they were offered modeling possibilities with Abercrombie & Fitch.

Aspiring model David Bradberry, who was 23 at the time, told the BBC that he felt under pressure to engage in sexual activity in order to meet Jeffries. He seemed to be selling notoriety. And compliance was the cost,” Bradberry said.

Later, he went to a party at Jeffries’ Hamptons estate, where he told the BBC that he was too intimidated to decline to go because of the remote location and the presence of employees wearing A&F uniforms.

Abercrombie & Fitch pledged an independent inquiry into the accusations after the BBC’s investigative story last year, but they have not yet said when the results would be made public. When questioned about the investigation’s progress, the business refused to comment, the BBC said.

Abercrombie & Fitch, Smith, and Jeffries are attempting to have the civil complaint dismissed. The business has maintained that it was unaware of Jeffries’ purported actions. However, since the claims are related to Jeffries’ business job, a US court already decided that A&F must pay Jeffries’ legal bills.

“Abhors sexual abuse and condemns the alleged conduct” is what Abercrombie said in a statement given to the court, according to the BBC.

When revenues began to decline in 2014, Jeffries resigned as CEO and left with a $25 million (£20.5 million) retirement payout. Once among the highest-paid CEOs in America, he was often criticized for his partner Smith’s power inside the firm, as well as for alleged discrimination and extravagant spending.