A former solar panel company director has been sentenced to five years in prison for the brutal rape of a 75-year-old grandmother in her own home.
The Attack in a Place of Safety
Amol Vijay Dhumal, a 45-year-old electrician, was contracted to install solar panels at the woman's home in Mount Colah, north-west Sydney, on 22 April 2024. The court heard that during the initial visit, Dhumal asked the vulnerable woman if she lived alone before inappropriately hugging her and attempting to kiss her, remarking she reminded him of his mother. He then left the property.
He returned two days later, claiming he needed to fix a power issue. It was during this second visit that the assault escalated horrifically. Dhumal told his victim that his wife never had sex with him, before grabbing her and attempting to drag her to a bedroom. When that failed, he raped her in her lounge room as she cried out, 'You've got to be kidding.'
Shockwaves and a Life Shattered
The victim, too traumatised to attend court for her attacker's sentencing last week, submitted a harrowing victim impact statement. She wrote that since the attack she had been 'not living, but only existing,' describing her home as a 'horror tragic place' where she now lives in constant fear.
'I now bolt all the windows and doors and feel so alarmed that out there someone knows I live alone – and will just come in again and harm me,' she told the court. The woman, who had been an active community volunteer, said she had 'withdrawn from it all' following the violation.
Company Horror and Legal Repercussions
Directors at AKYA Solar, where Dhumal was formerly listed as a director, have spoken of their profound shock. One anonymous director told the Daily Mail they were stunned when detectives arrived at their office with the allegations. 'He was a very simple guy, he had two young kids at home... it's shocking that something like this could happen,' the director said.
The company stressed that the victim had booked the installation through a third party and that Dhumal's exit from the business was 'unrelated' to his arrest. They were advised by investigators not to contact the victim or her family.
In a stark contrast to the victim's account, Dhumal's wife told the court her husband was 'loving and respectful,' though she did not comment on the rape itself. The judge, however, found Dhumal remorseless, labelling his claim that the victim was trying to 'set him up' as ludicrous. Judge Craig Everson SC stated the lack of remorse suggested a clear risk of reoffending.
Dhumal was sentenced to five years in prison and will be eligible for parole in April 2030. He has lodged an appeal against his conviction and will remain in custody while it is determined.
