Decades on from the monk’s “egregious” offending,
Victorian County Court Judge Pardeep Tiwana on Thursday jailed Vijitha for a
minimum of nine years and four months.
Buddhist monk Naotunne Vijitha has been found guilty of
sexual offences.© AAP
“People in positions of authority like you provide solace
and direction to many,” Tiwana said.
“When that is betrayed, a significant term of
imprisonment must follow.”
Inside the packed courtroom, Vijitha smiled, waved and
spoke to supporters who bowed to him as he was being led out of the dock.
His victims sat watching on, with one labelling the
support “ridiculous”.
“Oh my God, these people are insane. Do they not have
ears?” she said.
The abuse began in 1994 after the Swedish national moved
to Melbourne to become head monk of the Dhamma Sarana Buddhist temple at
Springvale in Melbourne’s south-east.
It continued until 2002, after the temple relocated to
Keysborough.
The six victims were aged between four and 12 years old
when they were abused inside Vijitha’s living quarters, a prayer room and at
Sunday school. He would lure children to the spaces with lollies, toys and
books while their parents helped out at the temple.
He was found guilty on 17 of 19 charges of sexual
penetration and committing an indecent act with a child under 16 by a jury in
October 2025, and acquitted of two indecent act charges.
Several victims provided impact statements to the court,
describing the lifelong trauma Vijitha’s abuse has had on them.
One woman, now in her 30s, said parts of her
nine-year-old self would “never come back”.
“He didn’t just violate my body,” she previously told the
court.
“He poisoned my faith that I was born into.”
Another victim said her greatest achievement in “the face
of pure evil” was that she lived a life of kindness and empathy.
Judge Tiwana set a head sentence of 13 years and two
months, describing how the monk used his power to exploit young children and
“transgressed every boundary”.
“The parents had no concerns about the safety of their
child in your presence,” he said.
“You betrayed this immense trust in the most unexpected
way.”
Vijitha continues to deny any responsibility and has
expressed no remorse, the judge said.
“I hope after hearing these victim impact statements, you
are able to reflect on the turmoil you’ve caused on their lives,” he said.
He has spent 343 days in pre-sentence detention and faces
deportation upon release.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028. Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.
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