Twist in case of Australia’s worst paedophile
A woman who alerted police to a prolific Australian paedophile is herself in court accused of leaking details of his alleged crimes to the media.
A former childcare worker, who raised concerns about a man who is now known to be one of Australia’s worst paedophiles, has faced court herself accused of distributing confidential documents about the case.
Yolanda Borucki told reporters she was feeling “nervous’ as she headed into Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.
In 2023, the whistleblower leaked information to Channel 9’s A Current Affair after she became frustrated at the police investigation into Ashley Paul Griffith who worked at the same Uniting Church childcare centre as her.
Queensland Police investigated an October 2021 complaint about Griffith made by Ms Borucki and another complaint in April 2022 but found there was insufficient evidence to establish a criminal offence.
But in September, Griffith pleaded guilty to 307 child abuse-related charges.
The charges include multiple counts of rape and indecent treatment of young girls across Brisbane between 2007 and 2013 and again from 2018 to 2022.
It is alleged another 180 offences occurred against children at a childcare centre in Sydney.
Griffith used online bios on childcare centre websites to lie about how much he cared for children.
One post read: “I believe children thrive when they feel loved, supported and safe. I also love creating experiences that excite children and foster their curiosity and wonder”.
Investigators were able to trace objects identified in the background of images and videos – which had been posted on the dark web between 2013 and 2014 – back to the Brisbane childcare centre where Griffith had worked.
Griffith’s guilty plea has made him one of Australia’s most prolific paedophiles.
Whistleblower in court
Ms Borucki is alleged to have sent emails about Griffith to the Channel 9 show in August 2023.
She told the program he had been seen kissing a child at the centre, and how she raised her concerns with management and eventually passed on those concerns to police.
It’s alleged that Ms Borucki also sent A Current Affair a copy of an internal Uniting Church report into the incident in the days before she finished working for the organisation.
The report recommended that Griffith remain working at the childcare centre.
Ms Borucki’s home was raided days after her A Current Affair interview went to air.
“I could not cope, I couldn’t not sleep,” Ms Borucki told officers as they went through her home.
She added that she was being treated like a criminal.
Ms Borucki has been charged with computer hacking and misuse causing detriment for allegedly sending details of Griffith from her work computer to her home computer and A Current Affair.
Ms Borucki’s case continue this week in Brisbane.
In September, Queensland’s then police minister Mark Ryan ordered an internal probe into how the allegations into Griffith were first handled given his subsequent guilty pleases.
“The level of trauma he has inflicted upon so many is almost beyond comprehension,” Mr Ryan said.
“Speaking generally, I know police will always do their very best to act upon complaints and conduct thorough investigations to ensure that perpetrators are held to account.
“Notwithstanding this matter having been previously reviewed, I have asked the commissioner if this matter could be examined again.
“If any improvements or leanings can be identified, then it is my expectation they should be implemented as soon as possible.”
Griffith is expected to be sentenced this week in Brisbane.
Court proceedings in New South Wales will begin when his Queensland matters are finalised.