Fijian Accused Child Rapist Flees Australia Ahead of 2025 Trial, Extradition Sought

Arvind Ajay Singh, a Fijian childcare worker accused of raping a four-year-old girl in Queensland, Australia, fled the country before facing trial, causing widespread outrage and calls for reform. Despite being charged in 2022 and released on bail with strict conditions including surrendering his passport, Singh managed to recover his passport and voluntarily leave for Fiji in July 2025. The case has been delayed multiple times, with a trial initially set for April 2023 and later delisted from a March 2024 date, leaving legal proceedings in limbo. Singh had been placed in immigration detention earlier in 2025 after being deemed an unlawful non-citizen, yet was still permitted to leave the country, sparking a blame game between Australian government departments. The victim’s family expressed deep frustration with systemic failures and called for greater coordination among agencies to prevent similar incidents. Authorities, including the Department of Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke, have declined to comment on the specifics due to privacy concerns, while extradition efforts are underway.