Drugged, Raped 5 South Korean Women: Indian-Origin Man Gets Jail for 40 Years in Australia – wna24

An Indian community leader in Australia has been sentenced to 40 years in jail for sexually assaulting five South Korean women. The court described his actions as “premeditated and elaborately executed,” with a non-parole period set for 30 years.  

Balesh Dhankhar, a 43-year-old former IT consultant, used fake job advertisements to trap his victims—young Korean women aged 21 to 27. He drugged and assaulted them, often in his Sydney home.  

Judge Michael King, delivering the verdict at the Downing Centre District Court, condemned Dhankhar’s crimes, calling them “highly predatory and manipulative.” The judge stated, “This was a planned attack on five vulnerable women over a long period.”  

Evidence showed that Dhankhar filmed the assaults and kept a detailed record of his victims, ranking them based on appearance, intelligence, and vulnerability.  

His crimes came to light in October 2018, when he attempted to assault a fifth victim. A police raid at his apartment led to the discovery of date-rape drugs and a hidden video recorder disguised as a clock radio.  

Until his arrest, Dhankhar was a respected figure in the Indian-Australian community. He had founded a satellite group of the BJP and worked with the Hindu Council of Australia. Professionally, he held high-profile positions, including roles at ABC, Toyota, British American Tobacco, and Sydney Trains.  

However, Judge King noted that his respectable image was a complete contrast to his crimes. “His public persona was entirely inconsistent with the reality of his actions,” the judge observed.  

Dhankhar denied the allegations, insisting the encounters were consensual. He even told a report writer, “There is a difference between how I see consent and how the law sees it.”  

With his non-parole period ending in April 2053, Dhankhar will be 83 by the time his full sentence is completed.