In a stunning development, Yolanda Borucki, the childcare center manager who first sounded the alarm about convicted pedophile Ashley Griffith, has been acquitted of computer hacking charges in a Brisbane court. The verdict raises troubling questions about how authorities handled the initial complaints against Griffith in 2021.
Whistleblower Accused of Hacking
Borucki worked at the same Uniting Church childcare center as Griffith and helped report him to police in 2021 for suspicious behavior. However, in a shocking turn of events, Borucki herself was charged with computer hacking just days after going public with her story on A Current Affair.
Prosecutors accused her of improperly accessing a restricted computer and sending private information about children and families to her personal email and a TV journalist. If convicted, she faced up to 10 years in prison.
Justice Prevails in Court
After a trial in Brisbane Magistrates Court, Borucki was found not guilty on all charges. In her ruling, Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan determined that prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Borucki used the computer without permission or caused any harm.
Borucki broke down in tears on hearing the verdict on Friday.
The outcome is a vindication for Borucki, who lost her job and had her clearance to work with children suspended after the charges were filed. She maintained her innocence throughout the ordeal.
Failures in Griffith Investigation
The acquittal raises serious concerns about how Borucki’s original complaints against Griffith were handled. She reported him to both police and the church in 2021, but the allegations were dismissed after an investigation at the time.
It wasn’t until a year later that Griffith was finally charged, after being linked to child abuse material by a different police unit. In September 2024, he was convicted of a staggering 307 child sex offenses spanning nearly two decades.
Last month, Griffith was sentenced to life in prison for his horrific crimes.
Borucki’s early attempts to expose him were tragically overlooked. Authorities are now investigating claims they ignored an even earlier complaint about Griffith lodged by a mother in 2009.
Systemic Failings & Unanswered Questions
This disturbing case exposes potential systemic failings in how complaints of child sexual abuse are investigated and illustrates the grave risks faced by whistleblowers who try to protect vulnerable kids.
- Why were Borucki’s initial reports about Griffith’s behavior disregarded by police and the church?
- What evidence led to Borucki being charged with computer hacking?
- How many other complaints against Griffith may have been ignored over the years?
Borucki’s exoneration is a hollow victory for a woman who tried to do the right thing to keep children safe and ended up facing prison herself. Her case demands a thorough review into the handling of Griffith from start to finish.
While Griffith will likely die behind bars, the trauma inflicted on his many young victims can never be erased. Had Borucki’s alarm been heeded sooner, perhaps some of those children could have been spared.
As a society, we must do better in listening to and protecting the brave individuals who speak up when they suspect a child is being harmed. The safety of our kids depends on it.
