Predator Exposed: Community Leader Sentenced for Serial Rapes

A prominent Indian community leader has received a lengthy prison sentence for committing “elaborately executed, manipulative, and highly predatory” sexual assaults on five Korean women.

Balesh Dhankhar lured his victims through fake job postings, subsequently drugging them either at his residence or nearby. The married IT consultant then assaulted and raped the women, recording his heinous acts for future sexual purposes.

All victims were either unconscious or significantly incapacitated during the assaults. Authorities uncovered an Excel spreadsheet detailing his interactions with each victim, including personal information and his evaluations of their vulnerability.

In sentencing Dhankhar to a minimum of 30 years today, District Court Judge Michael King noted the unprecedented nature of his crimes in New South Wales. The judge described Dhankhar’s actions as “premeditated, elaborately executed, manipulative, and predatory,” underscoring his blatant disregard for the victims’ well-being.

“This represents a horrific pattern of planned predatory behavior against five unrelated young and vulnerable women over an extended period,” the judge stated.

Victim-survivor advocate Karen Iles praised the judge for acknowledging the profound impact of Dhankhar’s actions on the victims. One survivor expressed, “He has inflicted wounds on my soul.”

Iles emphasized the seriousness of sexual violence: “These are grave offenses that demand significant legal repercussions. To change attitudes and behaviors, we must establish effective deterrents.”

She noted that the sentence would resonate with many Australian women, highlighting that one in five have experienced sexual assault at some point in their lives. The Law Reform Commission recently reported that less than one percent of perpetrators face legal consequences, and even fewer receive custodial sentences.

Before his arrest in 2018, Dhankhar was well respected within the Indian-Australian community, having established a satellite group for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party and serving as a spokesperson for the Hindu Council of Australia. He also worked as a data visualization consultant for various organizations, including the ABC and Toyota, having first arrived in Australia as a student in 2006.

The image of a community-minded individual involved in improving the lives of others sharply contrasted with the predatory behavior that emerged during the trial, the judge remarked.

Following the assault on his fifth victim in October 2018, police searched his Sydney CBD apartment and discovered date-rape drugs along with a video recorder concealed as a clock radio. In 2023, a jury found him guilty on 39 counts, including 13 sexual assault charges.

Dhankhar continues to deny drugging the women and claims there is a discrepancy between his understanding of consent and the law’s definition. His non-parole period is set to conclude in April 2053, backdated to the end of his trial, meaning he will be 83 years old when his 40-year sentence officially ends.