Adelaide carer Arjun Kandel found guilty of rape

Arjun Kandel has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman with an intellectual disability at a residential care facility.

A generic representative image for court proceedings.

A generic representative image for court proceedings. Source: Moment RF / Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images

It was alleged that the offences took place at the facility on 7 August 2020 when he was employed as a care worker.

The police were called to the facility two days after the incident.

Kandel was accused of sexually assaulting two women aged 59 and 35 at the time.

Kandel pleaded guilty to charges of rape and aggravated indecent assault in relation to the second victim.

“I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused knew she was not consenting,” Judge Liesl Kudelka said during the hearing at Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
As her responsible carer that day, he must have been aware of the level of care she required and the reason for that level of care, namely, that she had very limited intellectual capacity.
Judge Liesl Kudelka
In relation to the first victim, District Court Judge Kudelka found Kandel not guilty of aggravated indecent assault.

“I am satisfied there was indecent conduct, but I am unsure about the nature of it,” she said.

The matter is listed for mention in June when Kandel surrenders into custody.

He is on bail for a month with a reporting condition and passport in the court’s custody.

The sentencing is said to take place in July.

Share
1 min read

Published

By SBS Nepali
Source: SBS

Share this with family and friends


Download our apps
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
Independent news and stories connecting you to life in Australia and Nepali-speaking Australians.
Stories about women of Nepali heritage in Australia who are about to become parents.
Get the latest with our exclusive in-language podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
Nepali News

Nepali News

Watch it onDemand