Ashok Dhamala, 33, was sentenced to a 13-month intensive corrections order by the ACT Supreme Court. Photo: Albert McKnight.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to indecent assault.
A hotel manager repeatedly indecently assaulted and sexually harassed a vulnerable staff member under his supervision before warning her that if she told someone, she would lose her job.
The actions of the now-33-year-old Nepalese man Ashok Dhamala were “disgraceful”, Justice David Mossop told the ACT Supreme Court earlier this month.
“It is completely unacceptable that persons who are vulnerable because of their limited language skills and, consequently, limited employment opportunities, are sexually exploited in the workplace,” he said
In 2023, Dhamala was a manager at a hotel in Canberra when a woman, who is from overseas and spoke limited English, got a job at the hotel under his supervision.
He soon started telling her she was beautiful, but she ignored him.
One day when she was working in a hotel room, he entered, locked the door, pushed her towards a wall and said he wanted to marry her.
She told him she wanted to finish her work, that she was in a relationship and didn’t want to see anyone else.
But he repeatedly indecently touched her body and forced her to touch his for 15 to 20 minutes.
“She was saying no and asking him to stop, but he did not listen,” Justice Mossop said.
Afterwards, Dhamala continued to sexually proposition the woman.
When she told him she would tell someone about his behaviour, he told her, “If you say anything, you will lose your job and I will lose my job”.
“I’m not worried about me losing my job, but for you, your job is important,” he said.
He indecently assaulted her by grabbing her body in a hotel corridor on another occasion, then told her she was pretty and again indecently touched her body on a third occasion.
Ashok Dhamala must also complete 200 hours of community service and was fined $6000. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Justice Mossop said the offending involved the exploitation of the power disparity inherent in the employment relationship between the pair.
“It also involved the exploitation of the offender’s physical strength and the economic vulnerability of the victim,” he said.
“All offending occurred in circumstances where the victim was obviously and unequivocally not consenting to it.”
Dhamala pleaded guilty to three counts of committing an act of indecency without consent.
An immigrant from Nepal, he moved to Australia in 2014, married his wife in 2016, has a Master’s degree in professional accounting from the Federation University of Australia and worked in hospitality and hotels in Sydney before getting his job in Canberra.
He said his actions were “the biggest mistake of his life” and he could not say sorry enough.
Justice Mossop said he was genuinely remorseful, had insight into the impact of his crimes and was willing to participate in any courses or programs as directed. He said it was possible that the matter did not require full-time imprisonment.
Dhamala was convicted and sentenced to 13 months’ jail to be served as an intensive corrections order, which is a community-based sentence, and fined $6000.
He must also complete 200 hours of community service, treatment programs as directed and a 30-month good behaviour order.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
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