Women’s sex abuse nightmare at hands of ‘monster’ monk
The nightmares of six women whose childhood trust and faith were shattered by the sexual crimes committed by their spiritual leader 30 years ago still persist.
But on Monday the women gathered their strength and gave a strong voice to their young selves; one of the victims posted a heartbreaking message to the “little girl hanging there.”
“Only I know how dark and lonely it is, but somehow you used that pain to fuel the fire inside you,” the woman, now in her 30s, told Victoria’s District Court.
The medals and trophies in his parents’ locker were proof that he was giving life his best.
“But your greatest accomplishment in the face of pure evil is living a life of kindness and empathy,” he said.
“Little girl, you can rest easy now. It’s over. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
The woman was one of six girls, aged between 4 and 12, who were sexually abused by Buddhist monk Naotunne Vijitha.
Vijitha, 71, was convicted after a jury trial in October for sexual abuse that occurred in the temple living quarters, prayer room and Sunday school.
Jurors found the monk guilty of 17 of 19 child sexual intercourse charges and acquitted him of two counts of indecent conduct with a child.
The abuse began after the Swedish national moved to Melbourne in 1994 to become head monk of the Dhamma Sarana Buddhist temple in Springvale, and continued for eight years even after the temple moved to Keysborough in the early 2000s.
Like other victims, memories of the crime have tormented the woman for decades.
“This nightmare started at an unimaginably young age for me, but I remember what he did to me as if it happened today,” he said.
He remembered watching his mother cry and his father’s usually calm voice quaver when the pain and shame became too much to bear.
“They took me, their only child, to a place that was supposed to be sacred and safe. Little did they know the monster that was waiting for me,” he said.
For another victim, also in his 30s, the ordeal that began when he was nine years old will never end.
“Parts of the little girl will never come back,” he told the court.
“He not only violated my body, but also poisoned the faith I was born into.”
Other victims described the lifelong traumatic effects of Vijitha’s abuse on themselves, their relationships, careers and social lives, with many describing their inability to trust men.
Vijitha’s lawyer, Nick Papas KC, said the monk’s old age and health problems, including an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, made prison more burdensome and that if he were released, community members would be aware of his sexual abuse convictions.
Prosecutor Fiona Martin described Vijitha’s offending as brazen and arrogant, given that the victims were lured with sweets and books and abused with their parents or other nearby adults.
Vijitha will be sentenced at a later date.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
Child Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
