Arabic version: محتجز في غرب أستراليا يزعم تعرضه لإساءة في احتجاز الأحداث

According to The Guardian, Aaron, whose name has been changed, is preparing to sue the Western Australian government over allegations that he was sexually abused while held in youth detention in Perth. Aaron, now in his 30s and in an adult prison, alleges abuse at the former Rangeview detention centre in the early 2000s.

Through his lawyer, Peter Subramaniam of Chamberlains Law Firm, Aaron alleges a youth justice officer who had promised to protect him sexually assaulted him on two occasions at Rangeview. He also alleges he was raped and sexually assaulted at Banksia Hill juvenile detention centre in 2005. Subramaniam said the Banksia Hill allegation is not included in the legal action because the firm could not access records needed to verify it.

A spokesperson for the WA Department of Justice said it would be inappropriate to comment on Aaron’s case because it is subject to an ongoing legal process. The department said it takes allegations of abuse of young people very seriously and said it gives priority to the safety and wellbeing of people in its care.

Subramaniam said he has seen claims alleging rape and sexual assault of children in state custody dating from 1986 to 2016. Twenty-two cases involve people alleging sexual abuse in the WA youth detention system, including nine First Nations people. A class action launched by Levitt Robertson solicitors has more than 100 former Banksia Hill detainees as members.

Rangeview closed in 2012 after concerns about staffing and management. The WA government has been part of the national redress scheme since 2019 and, as of 30 June 2025, had paid more than $28m to 361 survivors. Former children’s court president Denis Reynolds called for an independent inquiry into youth detention management, saying the state’s machinery of government fails vulnerable children.