Former childcare worker convicted of indecent treatment of child, acquitted of rape on Sunshine Coast
Consensus Summary
A former childcare worker named Arvind Ajay Singh was found guilty of indecent treatment of a child but acquitted of rape charges after a three-day trial on the Sunshine Coast. Singh, 43, was accused of digitally raping a child in his care at a Queensland daycare center in 2022. The jury, after hearing testimony from 10 witnesses including the victim, ruled against the rape charge but convicted him of the lesser offense. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, with 10 months to be served before deportation to Fiji. Singhâs visa was canceled after the 2022 charges, but he remained in Australia until deported in July 2025 before voluntarily returning for trial in February 2026. The victimâs parents described the abuse as a betrayal of trust and expressed frustration over the prolonged legal process. Crown prosecutors highlighted the childâs lack of understanding of the sexual nature of the incident, while defense arguments questioned the victimâs credibility. The case underscores concerns about child safety in care settings and the challenges families face in holding abusers accountable.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Arvind Ajay Singh, 43, was found guilty of indecent treatment of a child under 16 years but not guilty of rape in a Queensland court
- Singh was accused of digitally raping a child in his care at a Sunshine Coast childcare centre in 2022
- The trial lasted three days with 10 witnesses, including the victim, and the jury deliberated for hours before reaching a verdict
- Singh was sentenced to 20 months in prison, with 10 months to be served before the sentence is suspended and he is deported to Fiji
- Singh, a Fiji citizen, had his visa cancelled after being charged with rape in 2022 but remained in Australia until deported in July 2025
- Singh voluntarily returned to Queensland in February 2026 to face trial and surrendered his passport upon arrival
- The victimâs parents described the abuse as a 'profound betrayal of trust' and expressed devastation over the outcome
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Crown prosecutor Alex Stark described the childâs evidence as showing 'unicorns and teddies' and that the child had no awareness of the sexual nature of the incident
- Defence barrister Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown called the childâs evidence 'vague' and 'weak' and claimed Singh never touched the childâs underwear or genitals
- DNA testing results were neutral and did not support either case
- The court heard Singh was remanded in custody and sentenced on Friday morning
- The victimâs father stated on A Current Affair that the family had been in 'limbo land' for four years fighting to bring Singh to justice
- The father criticized immigration officials for allowing Singh to leave the country despite being an accused rapist, saying 'someone stamped his paperwork and let an accused rapist go out the front door'
- The childâs mother praised the victim as 'incredible' and 'the bravest little girl' and said the family had to fight to prevent Singh from working with children again
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 (ABC) states Singh was found guilty of indecent treatment of a child under 12 years of age, while Article 3 (ABC) does not specify the childâs age in the charge
- Article 2 (NEWSCOMAU) claims Singh was deported to Fiji before his court date in 2025, but Article 3 (ABC) clarifies he was deported in July 2025 after being detained in immigration detention for a month
- Article 1 (ABC) mentions Singh was remanded in custody and sentenced on Friday morning, while Article 3 (ABC) states the sentencing occurred on Friday morning but does not mention remand details
Source Articles
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