Aladin Saraghi-Smith found guilty of raping woman at Q1 building in Surfers Paradise

A man has been found guilty of raping a woman at the luxury Surfers Paradise tower, with the ordeal leaving his victim feeling ‘humiliated’ and suffering ongoing nightmares.

Aladin Saraghi-Smith, 31, has been sentenced to jail for seven years after being found guilty of raping a woman at the Q1. Picture: Facebook

A businessman found guilty of violently raping a woman at the Q1 building – leaving his ‘humiliated’ victim with nightmares – showed no remorse and tried to erode her credibility at trial, a court has been told.

Aladin Sabastian James Saraghi-Smith was convicted of two counts of rape and one of disabling in order to commit an indictable offence following a trial in Southport District Court last week.

He was acquitted of a further count of each offence.

It was heard during the trial that the 31-year-old and the woman went up to the room in the Surfers Paradise tower together on August 22, 2020.

They were known to one another and had arranged to meet. The court was told there was consensual sexual activity before Saraghi-Smith raped the woman in the bedroom, grabbing her throat and choking her during the assault.

Aladin Saraghi-Smith, 31, has been sentenced to jail for seven years after being found guilty of raping a woman at the Q1. Picture: Facebook

His victim was eventually able to free herself and fled. She later reported the rape to police. It was heard at the outset of the trial that Saraghi-Smith did not deny sexual contact with the woman that night, but maintained it was consensual or “reasonably perceived” as being so.

The woman’s victim impact statement was submitted to the court during sentencing proceedings on Monday.

It was heard she felt “dirty, humiliated, and disgusting in her own skin” following the ordeal and had nightmares about it “over and over” again.

Judge Deborah Richards said that while the rape itself took only a short time, it had impacted Saraghi-Smith’s victim for years and continued to do so to this day.

Aladin Saraghi-Smith, 31, has been sentenced to jail for seven years after being found guilty of raping a woman at the Q1. Picture: Facebook

Judge Richards said Saraghi-Smith was given the “benefit of the doubt” as to whether he was initially mistaken about the woman’s consent in being acquitted of the other two charges, and that she rejected claims he had discussed a “safe word” with the woman.

“It’s clear the jury decided – and rightly so, in my opinion – that you were certainly aware once things started, once (the woman) rolled away that there was no consent,” Judge Richards said.

“It came across during your evidence that you were making things up on the fly to make her sound like someone who would be up for anything, basically. You’ve shown no remorse at all – you did your best to besmirch her character in every way during this trial.”

Judge Richards sentenced Saraghi-Smith to seven years’ jail with parole eligibility from February 22, 2027, saying she could see he was a hardworking man with strong ties to the community.

Defence barrister Ambyr Cousen told the court Saraghi-Smith had always had stable work, and now ran a successful business with a friend.

Ms Cousen said her client also had a good relationship with his current partner of almost three years, who supported Saraghi-Smith from the courtroom gallery alongside several of his family members.

His supporters called out, “Love you!” as he was taken away by police.