In a disturbing case out of Melbourne, a skin doctor has been found guilty of establishing a religious cult to gain a “god-like status” over his followers, which he then used to sexually abuse their children. The shocking details, revealed in a recent Victorian Court of Appeal decision, expose the depths of manipulation and depravity perpetrated by 49-year-old Pradeep Dissanayake.
From Doctor to Cult Leader
Dissanayake, the founder of the Windsor-based Melbourne Medical Skin Clinic, began his descent into cult leadership after returning from a trip to Sri Lanka in 2016. He started preaching a self-styled blend of Buddhism and Christianity, eventually amassing a group of devoted followers over whom he exerted disturbing levels of control.
As the leader of the sect, Dissanayake dictated nearly every aspect of his followers’ lives:
- Controlled where they lived and how to raise their children
- Demanded hourly text messages praising him
- Required permission for basic activities like showering
- Forced parents to “swap” children and raise each other’s kids
Members had to kneel in Dissanayake’s presence when he entered their homes. The court described him as assuming a “god-like status” that gave him authoritarian power over the group, including access to the children of his followers.
Exploiting Power to Abuse Girls
Shockingly, Dissanayake used his position to repeatedly sexually abuse two 12-year-old girls who were the daughters of sect members. The court found that the rapes occurred over several months, including:
- During a December 2021 trip to Bunnings to buy painting supplies
- In hotel rooms and a car park on other occasions
In a chilling attempt to justify his actions, Dissanayake later claimed to psychologists that he raped the girls to teach them to “respect the lord” and that his desire was to “fix” his victims by showing them love. The court rejected his “delusional” claims that he derived no sexual satisfaction from the abuse.
“The complainants were vulnerable young girls whose families were in the thrall of the respondent,” the court stated. “He used his position and influence to facilitate access to the complainants and exert influence over them to commit the crimes. The offending was predatory offending of a disgusting and shameless kind.”
Sentencing and Reaction
Dissanayake, a doctor who migrated to Australia with his family in 2006, was initially sentenced to 8 years in prison with a 5 year non-parole period. However, prosecutors appealed the sentence as inadequate given the severity of his crimes. The Court of Appeal agreed and increased his term to 10 years and 10 months, with a non-parole period of 8 years.
In explaining the longer sentence, the court highlighted several aggravating factors:
- 37-year age gap between Dissanayake and his victims
- Victims’ vulnerability as children of sect members under his influence
- Abuse of power and trust in his role as the cult’s leader
- Crimes were planned and concealed from other adults
- Dissanayake was indifferent to the harm he inflicted
As an educated medical professional, the court rejected any notion that Dissanayake was blinded by a “religious fog” and unaware that his conduct was criminal. They emphasized that he “well knew” he was engaging in illegal acts.
This disturbing case highlights the insidious nature of cults and the way charismatic leaders can exploit their power to perpetrate heinous abuses. It also demonstrates the courts’ willingness to impose harsher penalties when offenders egregiously violate the trust and welfare of vulnerable children.
