How an Indian massage therapist sexually abused 61 women in 9 months in Australia

"If it doesn't feel right, it means it's not right," a victim recounted outside the court on Friday (May 15), who was "happy" after an Indian-origin massage therapist in Australia was sentenced to 13 years and 10 months in prison, with a non-parole period of 10 years and 10 months.

Sumit Satish Rastogi was accused of sexually abusing 61 women at a massage parlour in Adelaide, Australia.

Rastogi was working at the parlour; however, he was not reportedly qualified for the job. He pleaded guilty to 97 offences, including multiple counts of aggravated indecent assault and indecent filming that involved 61 victims, according to reports.

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He committed the offences between October 2021 and July 2022 at a massage business in Glenelg, in Adelaide’s western suburbs, where he targeted female clients during appointments. He was arrested in July 2022.

The court had previously heard that Rastogi was working as an unqualified massage therapist at the time the offences occurred.

We take a look.

How the court detailed Rastogi's offence

While outlining the offences committed over nine months in a 3-hour sentencing hearing, South Australia District Court Judge Carmen Matteo on Friday (May 15) described Rastogi's offence as “regular and prolific."

The judge said Rastogi had violated those women who were “trusting, unsuspecting and entitled to safety, respect and dignity," ABC News reported.

"You abused their trust and treated them with an utter lack of respect and dignity when you touched them sexually and or took images which intentionally captured parts of their body that were their right to keep private and unexposed."

"Your offending conduct was regular and, at times, prolific," the judge blasted Rastogi.

Judge Matteo noted that Rastogi's offending became severe over time after he “developed confidence."

"All of your conduct in indecently assaulting your victims was serious, but it became particularly so once you developed the confidence to unjustifiably interfere with their underwear to access them directly," she said.

"Every invasive image you took involved a gross breach of trust and was entirely unacceptably exploitative, and when you couple that conduct with physical sexual interference, your conduct took on another level of depravity and insult to your victims," the report quoted her as saying.

“By June and July 2022, I would characterise your offending against client victims as being out of control and showing no signs of restraint until the moment you got caught,” she said.

Judge Matteo also found it "somewhat remarkable” that Rastogi was able to "provide massage services for payment" without having any formal qualifications.

Was Rastogi diagnosed with voyeuristic disorder?

The judge noted the fact that the Adelaide massage therapist had been diagnosed by a psychiatrist with voyeuristic disorder.

This disorder is a paraphilic mental health condition in which a person repeatedly gets sexual excitement from secretly watching other people when they are naked, changing clothes, or involved in sexual activity, without those people knowing or consenting.

Rastogi also blamed his actions on a voyeuristic disorder and marital issues. However, Judge Matteo argued that "it is a clinically plausible explanation, however, it does not absolve him of responsibility."

She added that his disorder remained untreated and could not be addressed while he was imprisoned. Adam Richards, the defence lawyer, asserted that Rastogi had asked him to reiterate his apology in court. “He can’t forgive himself, and he expects no one else to forgive him,” Richards averred, according to the report.

What victims recounted in their ordeal

The abuse left deep psychological trauma, and many of the victims shared that they lost trust in male healthcare professionals. They described Rastogi as a “predator” and a “creep”, Australia Today reported.

According to a woman's testimony to the court, the assault occurred during her honeymoon, turning the "one of the happiest weekends" of her life into a “haunting memory”.

Another victim condemned the “relentless delays” in the legal procedure, telling the court that 1,271 days had passed since the assault and that the prolonged proceedings had hindered survivors from beginning proper healing and therapy.

Outside the court after sentencing on Friday (May 15), one of the victims said she was "happy" with the penalty imposed on him. She also urged other victims not to ignore the situation and encouraged them to speak up.

"No one spoke out sooner; everyone knew it felt wrong, and we all left just thinking that was a bit strange, but no one actually said anything," the woman, who asked not to be named, said, according to ABC News.

"You just don't understand what women go through in that situation. Don't feel ashamed if you don't say something and this comes out … you shouldn't at all," another victim asserted.

They also questioned Rastogi’s remorse, saying his apology was all about excuses rather than accountability. "I read his apology letter, and it was all just excuses."

With inputs from agencies