Vijitha Naotunne, a Buddhist monk and former abbot of a temple in Victoria, Australia, is currently standing trial in Melbourne on 19 charges of sexual assault and indecent behavior. Naotunne is accused of sexually abusing or molesting six young women over a period spanning more than a decade while serving as the temple’s abbot. The court heard that the alleged assaults occurred even while some victims were menstruating.
Details of the Allegations
According to Australian media, including The Sydney Today and the Herald Sun, Naotunne is accused of various acts including forcible kissing, digital and object penetration, and assault during menstruation.
The prosecution alleges that the acts were committed against six young women who are now in their 30s. Some victims claimed they were assaulted while attending temple events with their families more than ten years ago.
- One victim recounted that after an event, Naotunne allegedly forcibly kissed her and unzipped her jeans before sexually assaulting her as she was leaving his room.
- Another woman alleged that she was menstruating and wearing a tampon at the time, but the abbot allegedly reached into her underwear to make contact, saying it was “accessible.”
- Other victims claimed they were sexually assaulted by Naotunne up to four times over different periods.
The prosecution argues that these were not isolated events but rather repeated actions that occurred over several years and at different locations within the temple grounds. Some victims recalled that the abbot committed the acts when others were not paying attention or after events had concluded, despite there being many people present at the temple. The case is currently being heard by the County Court of Victoria.
The Defence’s Argument
Naotunne has firmly pleaded “completely innocent” to all charges. His defence team urged the jury to cautiously assess the credibility and alleged implausibility of the evidence.
The defence attorneys argued that several of the accusations contain “almost incredible” details and questioned how such misconduct could have been concealed given the high number of people usually present at the temple. The defense emphasized that the reliability of the witnesses’ memories may have been affected by the passage of time, urging the jury to scrutinize the accuracy and consistency of the testimonies.
The trial has drawn strong attention from the Australian public, particularly concerning the credibility of religious institutions and clergy. Members of the Buddhist community have expressed shock and called for the court to handle the matter with the utmost seriousness to ensure justice for the victims. Conversely, there is concern that the case could fuel widespread skepticism and negative perceptions towards religious groups. The court is yet to deliver a final verdict.
