A “predatory” holistic energy healer who sexually assaulted two vulnerable women before fleeing Australia has been jailed.

Matahari pleaded guilty to rape and two counts of sexual assault, eight years after his offending began.

The court learned that Matahari misused his connection with a woman in December 2017 after being introduced to her through family connections, as her mother was also receiving kinesiology treatment from him.

Matahari digitally raped the-then 20-year-old, taking advantage of a woman who went seeking his expertise, the court heard.

“She was already feeling quite uneasy … and you progressed with touching her under the guise of therapy,” Judge Deborah Richards said.

The woman read out a devastating impact statement to the court with her father in support.

“I never in my life felt so small, so powerless, so utterly violated, as I did from the assault itself and the days that followed,” she said.

“But the impacts aren’t just consigned to what had happened on the day.

“It concerns the seven years that have passed since then, a prolonged period of waiting, hoping, and incessantly reliving the assault without the means to finally move on.”

A second woman made sexual assault allegations against Matahari in 2018.

He pleaded guilty before it went to trial to both the rape and sexual assault charges in April 2021.

But Matahari then changed his plea and fled Australia to Thailand in December 2021.

Matahari was charged with breach of bail and arraigned on that charge on Friday.

“You had to be dragged back,” Judge Richards said.

The crown prosecutor described Matahari’s actions as “predatory and opportunistic sexual offenses targeting two vulnerable women, actions which persisted without hindrance.”

Matahari’s defence detailed his extensive work history across multiple fields and provided character references citing his integrity.

“You don’t have integrity when you run away from your charges and leave victims hanging while you’re basically hiding from the law,” Judge Richards said.

“It’s extraordinary people would speak of him in these terms if they knew what he’d done.”

Matahari was sentenced to five years in jail and will be eligible for parole in September 2026.

Support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028.