A childcare centre manager who alerted police to one of Australia’s worst paedophiles has been found not guilty of computer hacking for using a restricted computer to inform the media.
Yolanda Borucki worked at the same Uniting Church childcare centre as Ashley Paul Griffith in 2021 and helped report him to authorities that year, but police and the centre rejected the allegations after an investigation.
Griffith was charged a year later after being linked to child sexual abuse material online by a different police unit. In September he was convicted of 307 child sexual offences committed over a period of nearly 20 years and last month was sentenced to serve life in prison.
A magistrate, Kerrie O’Callaghan, found Borucki not guilty of computer hacking for using a restricted computer without consent and causing detriment to the church worth more than $5,000.
Borucki was charged just days after appearing on A Current Affair revealing complaints of indecent behaviour by Griffith.
She was accused of sending several emails containing documents to her private email and to a Channel Nine employee, Daniel Nolan.
The emails allegedly contained private information about six families and children, including one of Griffith’s victims.
She pleaded not guilty and a trial was held at Brisbane magistrates court this year.
O’Callaghan found the prosecution had failed to prove that Borucki had used the computer beyond reasonable doubt.
The magistrate also found that the prosecution had failed to prove that she did not have permission to send the emails or that doing so caused harm.
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Borucki broke down in tears on hearing the verdict on Friday.
Queensland police are now investigating claims that they ignored a 2009 complaint by a woman who believes her son was abused by Griffith. Griffith has not been charged with that offence.
Borucki was told she would be made redundant the day before Griffith was arrested and she was sacked shortly afterwards. Her blue card permitting her to work with children is suspended.
If convicted she would have faced a maximum of 10 years in prison.
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In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. The crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In an emergency, call 000. International helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org.
Source: www.theguardian.com