A former Socceroo, Ruon Tongyik, has been found not guilty of rape after a jury at the Sydney District Court deliberated for less than two hours following a two-week trial. The allegations stemmed from an incident in November 2018, during which Tongyik was accused of assaulting a woman at his home. Upon his acquittal, Tongyik was visibly emotional, embracing his partner.
Alongside Tongyik, his friend Mardochee Manirakiza was also discharged of two counts of aggravated sexual assault. The pair denied accusations that they had assaulted a young woman who had become acquainted with Tongyik through Instagram. The defence argued that the woman had initiated a drinking game and became intimate with Tongyik before engaging in sexual activity with Manirakiza.
Although the woman reported the incident to a friend immediately afterward, she only contacted police in 2021 after making the claim public on Twitter, which led to Tongyik being removed from Australia’s Olympic football team. Up until that point, he had represented the Socceroos in two matches.
During the trial, the prosecution characterised the woman as a credible witness. However, Tongyik’s barrister suggested inconsistencies in her testimony, particularly focusing on a text message she sent to her sister shortly after the alleged attack. In response to her sister’s inquiry about her whereabouts, the woman replied with a single word, which the defence claimed undermined her narrative. The barrister pointed out that the text did not indicate she had suffered sexual assault, labelling it a significant issue for the prosecution’s case.
The woman contended that she had begun a drinking game proposed by Tongyik and subsequently blacked out. Upon regaining consciousness, she claimed to have found herself in a compromising position. Nevertheless, the defence maintained that her account was implausible and suggested it was fabricated due to her disappointment over not being able to engage with Tongyik as she had hoped.
Following the verdict, it is anticipated that Tongyik and Manirakiza will pursue compensation for legal fees incurred during the proceedings. For anyone in need of support related to sexual abuse, the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service can be reached at 1800 211 028.