Melbourne Buddhist monk fronts court on historic child sex crime charges
One of Victoria’s most senior Buddhist monks has been charged with more than a dozen sexual crimes against children dating back almost 30 years.
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One of Victoria’s most senior Buddhist monks has been charged with historic child sex offences.
Vijitha Naotunne, the chief monk at Dhamma Sarana Buddhist Sri Lankan Temple in Keysborough, is accused of more than a dozen sexual crimes against children dating back almost 30 years.
The 68-year-old is facing 13 charges which include the sexual penetration of a child under 16 years and indecent act with a child under 16 years.
The alleged offending involved three children between 1996 and 2004.
Charge sheets released by the court allege Naotunne sexually penetrated underage girls with his fingers and objects including a clear plastic ruler and pink oblong-shaped eraser.
Eight of the alleged sex offences including those involving objects occurred in Springvale between 1996 and 1998.
The remaining charges occurred in Keysborough between 2001-2003.
They include allegations the monk digitally penetrated the vagina of a girl aged between 10 and 16 and placed the hand of a girl aged under 16 on his penis and touched her upper thigh and groin region.
Naotunne was charged by Sexual Crimes Squad detectives on Wednesday.
Police allege Naotunne came into contact with the complainants through his role at the temple.
Naotunne appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday wearing orange robes.
No details of the charges against him were aired.
Naotunne’s bail was extended until his next court hearing on November 10.
In an interview years ago about his life as a Buddhist monk, Naotunne said children were frequent visitors to the temple.
“We get a lot of schoolchildren come. Some days 350 (children come). They have a lot of questions … they also send us letters of appreciation saying they have learnt a lot. Teachers regularly bring their classes every year,” he said in the interview.
Naotunne was ordained at the age of 15 and has served at the Dhamma Sarana Buddhist Sri Lankan Temple since about 2000.
He arrived in Australia in the ’90s and previously spoke about how life as a monk in Australia was different to in Sri Lanka.
“You have to abide by rules … not rules of the monks only but rules of the government and councils. In Sri Lanka we don’t have such rules to abide by,” he said in the interview.
The investigation into the alleged historic sex crimes continues.
Victoria Police encouraged victims of sexual abuse to come forward no matter how long ago they were abused.
“Victoria Police encourages all victims of sexual assault and child abuse, and anyone who has knowledge of such a crime, to make a report,” it said in a statement.
“Victoria Police is committed to investigating and bringing to justice those people who prey on children no matter how many years have passed.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.com.au
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