A senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk has denied sexually assaulting six girls at a Melbourne temple and has pleaded not guilty at his County Court trial, Australian media reported.
Warning: This story contains details of alleged sexual assault.
The complainants, who are now in their 30s, allege Naotunne Vijitha targeted them when they attended the Dhamma Sarana temple in Melbourne’s south-east between 1994 and 2002.
Reverend Vijitha, who was the head monk at the temple, has pleaded not guilty to 9 charges of sexual penetration of a child and 10 charges of committing an indecent act with a child under 16.
On Wednesday, prosecutor Fiona Martin told the jury the alleged offences took place at the temple’s initial headquarters in Springvale, and later at its purpose-built Keysborough site.
The monk allegedly lured the girls to his living quarters and sexually abused them, Ms Martin said.
Reverend Vijitha denies the claims, with his barrister saying there was “no middle ground” in the case.
The complainants, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were aged under 16 when the alleged offences occurred.
Some claimed they were digitally penetrated by the monk, while others said he inappropriately touched them or put their hand on his penis.
One complainant allegedly said the monk “apologised and told her not to tell anyone”, Ms Martin told the jury.
The prosecutor said another complainant was assaulted after she entered the monk’s living quarters, believing “he might have had some lollies on offer”.
Ms Martin said one of the women reported Reverend Vijitha to police in 2005 but withdrew her complaint, before making a formal statement in 2022 during a new investigation.
Ms Martin said some of the women had told others about the allegations when they were in school or when they were young adults.
The recent investigation into the monk was triggered by a Crime Stoppers report in 2021. By August 2023, six women had contacted police, the court heard.
The women will be called to give evidence in the trial, which is set to run for about three weeks.
Defence describes allegations as ‘improbable’
Reverend Vijitha came to Australia in 1994 to head up the temple, which was established by the local Sri Lankan community. Part of his role included holding Sunday school classes, the court heard.
The 70-year-old, who was dressed in orange robes, listened to proceedings from the court dock with the assistance of a Sinhalese interpreter on Wednesday.
Defence barrister Nicholas Papas KC described the allegations against his client as “improbable”, saying the jury would need to consider things like the layout of the temple buildings when deciding if the monk could be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
“He says he’s not guilty. He denies the charges. There’s no middle ground here,” Mr Papas said.
Mr Papas said it was natural for people to be repulsed by allegations of child sexual assault, but urged the jury to decide the case on the evidence presented in court and to keep an open mind.
“What the witnesses recall about what happened 25 or 30 years ago is a central question and how accurate and reliable that evidence will be,” he said.
Mr Papas said his client was facing serious charges, and that the defence would be asking “questions that are difficult” of Reverend Vijitha’s accusers.
The trial continues before Judge Pardeep Tiwana. (ABC)
