Abhishek Timalsina to face ACT Supreme Court rape trial

A Canberra retail worker will fight allegations he raped a woman in the back office of a store at a popular shopping centre last year.

A man will face trial in the ACT Supreme Court after he allegedly raped a woman at Westfield Belconnen in November 2022. Picture: Geoff Comfort/Westfield

A Canberra retail worker facing two counts of rape will take his fight against the allegations to the ACT Supreme Court.

Philip man Abhishek Timalsina, 28, allegedly took photos of and raped a woman in the office of a retail store at Belconnen Westfield on November 3 last year.

Mr Timalsina first faced the ACT Magistrates Court in late November 2022, where he was initially charged with a single count of sexual intercourse without consent.

Prosecutors slapped him with a slew of new charges when he appeared for a pre-hearing mention on Monday.

A retail worker who allegedly raped a woman at Belconnen Westfield will fight the charges in the ACT Supreme Court. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

He now faces three counts of an act of indecency without consent, two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and unlawfully confining someone.

Mr Timalsina pleaded not guilty to all charges and his lawyer, Tamzin Lee from ACT Legal Aid, told the court the matter was ready to be committed to the ACT Supreme Court.

Magistrate James Stewart committed the matter for trial and set March 9 as the first appearance in the Supreme Court.

Mr Timalsina will remain on bail where he is not to go within 100 metres of an airport and must notify police if he plans to travel interstate.