Six women have delivered harrowing victim impact statements in court, confronting a senior Buddhist monk who systematically abused them as children.

Naotunne Vijitha, 71, faces a lengthy prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of 17 counts of child sexual abuse. The offences occurred between 1994 and the early 2000s while he served as the head monk at the Dhamma Sarana temples in Springvale and Keysborough.

During the pre-sentencing hearing on Monday, the victims—who were aged between four and twelve at the time—described Vijitha as a “monster” who used his spiritual authority to exploit their trust, leaving them with lifelong trauma.

The prosecution described Monk Vijitha’s actions as brazen, noting he often abused the children while their parents were nearby at the temple.

Monk Vijitha maintains his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all charges during the trial.

His defense team has argued that a standard prison term would be exceptionally harsh given his age, failing health, and a recent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. His lawyers also submitted that public awareness of the case would effectively neutralize any risk to the community upon his eventual release.

Vijitha remains in custody. Judge Jacinta Forbes AM has deferred sentencing to a later date. (Newswire)

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