Rockhampton chef Abhishesh Bista accused of sexually assaulting teen girls

A chef who had tens of thousands of TikTok followers when he was accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls claims he does need an interpreter for a court trial.

Rockhampton chef and business owner Abhishesh Bista is accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls.

A Central Queensland chef who had tens of thousands of TikTok followers before closing his accounts down following revelations he was accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls claims he does need an interpreter.

Abhishesh Bista, 27, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, three of indecent treatment of a child aged under 16, two of indecent treatment of a child under 15 (permit).

In last week’s mention in Rockhampton District Court about trial preparation housekeeping, Judge Jeff Clarke asked defence lawyer Brian McGowran if an interpreter was still required for trial given the interpreter brought in for the pre-trial hearing didn’t need to interpret one word.

Mr McGowran said he did not have those instructions.

His colleague, Grant Cagney, appeared during this week’s mention on September 25.

“His instructions are the interpreter was communicating with him,” Mr Cagney said.

He said while the interpreter did not require pre-trial hearing proceedings to stop in order to their job, “he says she was conversing with him” during the hearing.

“I note the cost to the court,” Mr Cagney said.

Judge Clarke said he accepted Mr Bista needed an interpreter but it was “just that it didn’t accord with my (observations)”.

He said court staff would make inquiries about the availability of an interpreter for the trial dates available next year and communicate with the parties.

It was also revealed that Mr Bista’s matters had been listed as reserve trials in the February sittings and number one trial in the following sittings.

The trial is expected to run for four days.

The allegations against Mr Bista involve three complainants aged 14 to 15.

During the handing down of a decision about an application in June this year, Judge Clarke said Mr Bista, who was also part-time owner of a business, had allegedly kissed, fondled and had “other sexual contact with girls who all have a similar age… over the same period of time”.

“The defendant is alleged to have engaged in similar grooming behaviour,” he said.

“To attempt to seduce the girls.

“An unusual feature is the risk the defendant took to (allegedly) offend when there were [others around].”

Mr Bista’s bail was enlarged.

Originally published as Rockhampton chef Abhishesh Bista accused of sexually assaulting teen girls