Monk who preyed on girls sentenced to 13 years' jail

Naotunne Vijitha, a 71-year-old monk, has been sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison for sexually abusing six young girls at his Melbourne temple, the Dhamma Sarana temple in Melbourne's south-east. The Sri Lankan Buddhist community held Vijitha in high regard, especially during his tenure as chief monk at the temple. He faces potential deportation upon completion of his sentence and expressed willingness to return to Sweden.

Judge Pardeep Tiwana described Vijitha's crimes as a betrayal of trust, noting that he preyed on young, innocent girls for his own perverse sexual gratification. He took away their innocence in a place of worship where they were supposed to feel safe. Vijitha was found guilty of nine counts of sexual penetration of a child and eight counts of committing an indecent act with a child.

The victims were young girls who attended the temple between 1994 and 2002, with their abuser luring them into his living quarters and abusing them while their unknowing parents were in nearby rooms. The judge emphasized the long-lasting impact of the crimes on the victims, who suffer from shame and fear, and highlighted their honesty, intelligence, and articulation during the trial.

Vijitha pleaded not guilty at the trial, with his lawyers claiming the incidents did not occur and he had no recollection of some of the complainants. Born in Sri Lanka and ordained as a monk at 15, he later moved to Sweden, obtained citizenship, and relocated to Melbourne in 1994 to become the chief monk at the Dhamma Sarana temple.

The judge emphasized that Vijitha had betrayed the immense trust placed in him, causing irreparable harm to the temple's community.