Sri Lankan man jailed in New Zealand for raping elderly woman
COLOMBO – A Sri Lankan caregiver sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison in New Zealand for raping an elderly resident and sexually assaulting another at a residential care facility has been publicly identified as Nilushan Jayanga Silva Ginthota Vidhanage, after a court suppression order on his name was lifted Monday (6).
Vidhanage was convicted of one count of rape and two counts of unlawful sexual connection, and was sentenced by Judge Jane Farish in the Christchurch District Court in May. The suppression order barring New Zealand media from publishing his identity was lifted this week, while the name of the care facility where he worked remains permanently suppressed by court order.
According to New Zealand media reports, Crown prosecutor Courtney Martyn told the sentencing hearing the crimes amounted to an “egregious breach of trust”, adding that, aside from sexual offending within families, it was hard to imagine a more serious abuse of a caregiver’s position.
Judge Farish said the victims were especially vulnerable given their age and physical and mental conditions, and that they had every right to expect safety and care at the facility. She described the victims as “incredibly fragile” and said Vidhanage had exploited the trust placed in him as a caregiver. The offending, she added, had caused significant harm not only to the victims but also to the confidence families place in residential care facilities when entrusting loved ones to their care.
The court also weighed a separate charge to which Vidhanage pleaded guilty, of intimidating an 11-year-old girl. Judge Farish recounted that he had stopped his vehicle near the child after she left school, offered her a cigarette and then a lift, before ordering her to get into the car. The girl refused, fled, and later reported the vehicle’s registration number, leading to his arrest.
While Vidhanage admitted the intimidation charge, he continued to deny the sexual offences, and Judge Farish said she was therefore unable to grant him any sentencing discount for remorse.
His lawyer, Thomas Harré, acknowledged the serious harm caused by his client’s actions, telling the court the conviction had also deeply affected Vidhanage’s family. Harré said Vidhanage would be deported to Sri Lanka after serving the non-parole portion of his sentence, leaving his wife and extended family facing significant hardship. Judge Farish confirmed he would be deported upon completing one-third of his prison term, in line with New Zealand law.
-ENCL
Nilushan Jayanga Silva Ginthota Vidhanage was earlier found guilty of rape as well as two charges of unlawful sexual connection – Yiting Lin/ RNZ
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