A detective who was still learning detective work when he began investigating a sexual assault on an international student has been named NSW Police officer of the year for his work on several investigations, including one into a man found guilty of drugging and assaulting women he lured to his apartment.
Detective Senior Constable Chris Phibbs, 31, was on Friday recognised for his work on several investigations, including Strike Force Bonilla, which led to the conviction of Arvind Ravinesh Prasad.
Phibbs had been learning detective work for four months when a young woman reported being sexually assaulted after responding to an ad for night cleaning work on Kaam Kotha, a platform popular with the Nepalese diaspora. She recalled drinking a drink made by the man whose apartment she was cleaning, being led to his bedroom and the assault before losing consciousness.
After arresting Prasad in August 2023, Phibbs learned that messages recovered from his phone indicated he had spoken to more than 400 women, some of whom Phibbs feared had also been preyed upon. During the 18-month investigation, Phibbs reviewed messages and financial records while continuing to study to become a detective.
“I think it was probably the worst offending I’ve ever come across in my career, even though it hasn’t been particularly long,” Phibbs said. “The way he preyed upon them was disgusting. Just absolutely reckless for their safety and for their welfare and their wellbeing.”
Prasad was found guilty of 13 counts and sentenced to a minimum of 13 and a half years in prison. He has lodged a notice of intention to appeal against his conviction and sentence, and is eligible for parole in February 2037.
Phibbs said the pressure of securing justice for victims who feared reprisal weighed heavily on him. “For me, there was a lot of pressure because they’d obviously put their faith and their trust in us to succeed. They were extremely fearful that if we weren’t successful, then he would come out and come for them in some way,” he said.
He credited his colleagues for their support. “I wouldn’t have ever got to this stage without the people that work around me,” he said.
Phibbs hopes one day to share his knowledge with junior officers but for now is taking it day by day. “I’m still finding my feet,” he said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case highlights the vulnerability of international students and migrant workers to exploitation and abuse.
- It demonstrates the importance of thorough police work, even by junior officers, in uncovering systemic offending.
- The recognition of Phibbs may encourage other young detectives to pursue complex cases despite the personal toll.
Background
Sexual assault is a notoriously underreported crime, especially among victims who are new to a country and may fear deportation or distrust authorities. Police in Australia have increasingly focused on using digital evidence to build cases against serial offenders. Phibbs's work under Strike Force Bonilla is an example of a single complaint leading to a broader investigation.
What to Watch
- The outcome of Prasad's appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
- Any further victims coming forward as the case receives publicity.
- Potential changes to how platforms like Kaam Kotha vet employment ads.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedDetective-in-training Chris Phibbs, who investigated Prasad, was named NSW Police officer of the year.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Detective Senior Constable Chris Phibbs was on Friday named the NSW Police officer of the year for his investigative work.”
- SupportedPhibbs’s investigation led to a conviction and exposed a pattern of offending against vulnerable women.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Arvind Ravinesh Prasad, was sentenced to a minimum of 13½ years imprisonment after being found guilty last year of drugging and assaulting her and other vulnerable women he lured to his apartment in similar circumstances.”
- SupportedPhibbs received the award for work on several investigations, including Strike Force Bonilla.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Phibbs, 31, who was on Friday named NSW Police’s officer of the year for his work on several investigations, including Strike Force Bonilla.”
- SupportedPhibbs called the offending the worst he had encountered in his career, despite his career not being particularly long.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I think it was probably the worst offending I’ve ever come across in my career, even though it hasn’t been particularly long,” says Phibbs”
- SupportedPhibbs called Prasad’s treatment of the women disgusting and reckless for their safety and wellbeing.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““The way he preyed upon them was disgusting. Just absolutely reckless for their safety and for their welfare and their wellbeing so there was a lot of driving force behind it”
- SupportedPhibbs said he felt pressure because victims trusted police and feared Prasad might come for them if the case failed.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““For me, there was a lot of pressure because they’d obviously put their faith and their trust in us to succeed. They were extremely fearful that if we weren’t successful, then he would come out and come for them in some way,””
- SupportedPhibbs said he could not have reached that stage without the people around him.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I wouldn’t have ever got to this stage without the people that work around me,””
- SupportedPhibbs said, “I’m still finding my feet.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““I’m still finding my feet,” he says.”
- SupportedThe woman was an international student who reported an assault after responding to a night-cleaning job ad on Kaam Kotha.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The woman, an international student, had responded to an for night cleaning work on Kaam Kotha”
- SupportedMessages recovered from Prasad’s phone indicated he had spoken to more than 400 women, some of whom Phibbs feared had also been preyed upon.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Messages recovered from Prasad’s mobile phone indicated he had spoken to more than 400 women, some of whom Phibbs feared had also been preyed upon.”
- SupportedPrasad was found guilty of 13 counts and sentenced to a minimum of 13 and a half years in prison.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “a jury found Prasad guilty of all 13 counts Phibbs had laid”
- SupportedPrasad lodged a notice of intention to appeal his conviction and sentence and is eligible for parole in February 2037.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Prasad, 55, has lodged a notice of intention to appeal his conviction and sentence in the Court of Criminal Appeal. He is eligible for parole in February 2037.”