AIMS High Academy director admits to sexually assaulting underage girls
High school math tutor Madira Ginnige has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and grooming underage girls but denied he was guilty of rape.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A high school math tutor has admitted sexually assaulting underage girls but pleaded not guilty to rape.
AIMS High Academy director Madira Ginnige appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to 16 charges including sexual assault, indecent act and grooming.
The court heard there were nine complainants and most of the allegations related to victims aged 16 or 17.
He also admitted to two counts of sexually touching a child aged under 16.
But he pleaded not guilty to raping a woman in Narre Warren in July 2017.
“I pleaded guilty for some of the charges (as) advised by my lawyer, and I’m not pleading guilty for the rape charge,” he told the court.
The Herald Sun last year revealed Ginnige was charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 16.
The investigation by the Box Hill sexual offences and child abuse team was subsequently expanded, with a further 15 sexual offences laid against him.
AIMS High Academy had education centres based in both Mount Waverley and Narre Warren.
Ginnige worked as a high school mathematics tutor for more than 15 years.
He specialised in VCE Mathematical Methods and VCE Specialist Maths, with the academy linked to students at Melbourne High School, MacRobertson Girls High School and Nossal High School.
The academy, which appears to have shut since Ginnige was charged, was previously described on its website as “one of the most trusted names in the industry, all headed by the director Madira Ginnige”.
Ginnige, who is on bail, will face the County Court later this year.
Originally published as AIMS High Academy director admits to sexually assaulting underage girls
Security beefed up ahead of Ryan, Hamer Jewish community debate
Security has been boosted for a Jewish community election showdown between Teal independent MP Monique Ryan and Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer after wild scenes broke out at a separate Kooyong debate.
They thought it was their dream home. They ended up in ankle-deep water
A group of Ringwood residents remain locked in a vicious battle with their developer over claims of critical defects in their apartments which have left some owners selling at a $150,000 loss and others wading through ankle-deep water.