Former Queensland police officer Ross Kouimanis behind bars for child-sex offendingBy Alexandria UttingABC Gold CoastTopic:Crime31m ago31 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 9:57pmFormer Queensland police officer Ross Kouimanis has been jailed for child sex offences. File photo. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)abc.net.au/news/former-police-officer-ross-kouimanis-jailed-for-child-sex-abuse/105274736Link copiedShareShare articleFrom the outside, Queensland police officer Ross Kouimanis seemed like a bastion of his community.A respected highway cop working the busy Gold Coast traffic beat, he painted himself as a family man — speaking to the local paper once about his kids.After his retirement, Kouimanis's name was even mentioned in the Queensland Parliament for his work in the blue uniform.But behind closed doors, a court has found the man was committing unthinkable acts against a child who was just nine years old.Ross Kouimanis with Ros Bates in 2009. (Supplied)The shocking offending happened on the Gold Coast in the 1990s, but it took almost 20 years for the retired senior constable to be held to account.After being found guilty by the Beenleigh District Court jury in November last year, Kouimanis was this month jailed for eight years for the protracted offending against the child.He was convicted of 17 charges, including maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child under the age of 12, indecent treatment of a child, assault occasioning bodily harm, and rape.The abuse of trust took place at a property in the tourist city, where court documents said he showed the child pornography and inappropriately touched him for several years.Kouimanis spent 18 years with the Queensland police before his mandatory retirement at the age of 60.New beat as ministerial driver After he left the beat, Kouimanis continued to trade on a reputation as a highly decorated highway patrolman and took on a new career.In 2012, Kouimanis was employed as a driver by the Queensland government, acting as chauffeur for Gold Coast Minister Ros Bates for about 11 months.In 2013, ahead of the introduction of new hooning legislation, Ms Bates told Queensland Parliament that Kouimanis and another officer had helped her curb the problem in her electorate.Ros Bates says she was shocked when Kouimanis's offending was uncovered. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)"Ross Kouimanis was a local from Nerang," she said, according to a Hansard transcript."He was a senior constable who worked at Coomera with the traffic police for many years. He has since retired, but I believe that at the moment he is actively working somewhere else, doing something that he loves."Even during Labor's reign, [another officer] and Ross came with me to speak to the media about hooning and graffiti."I take my hat off to them both for the wonderful work that they did in my electorate."Minister 'sickened to the core'When contacted by the ABC, Ms Bates said she had no knowledge of Kouimanis's offending, which occurred many years before he was her driver, until he faced court."I am shocked and horrified and clearly had no knowledge of these sickening reports until he was identified after his sentencing," Ms Bates said."My thoughts go out to the victims and the families impacted by this reprehensible behaviour."This has sickened me to my core."Survivor speaks of trauma and fearKouimanis's survivor, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the ABC that making a criminal complaint had taken a toll.He said he hoped his story could help other victim-survivors find the strength to hold their perpetrators to account.In a victim impact statement tendered to the court, the man said he had carried a "silent burden" for almost two decades, losing jobs and relationships due to the trauma he suffered at the hands of Kouimanis."I am often trapped in my own mind unable to escape the overwhelming sense of fear and powerlessness that was instilled in me for years," he told the court."This trauma has also cost me so much of the life I once had. I've lost jobs, not just because of the emotional toll but because of the difficulty I face functioning in normal, everyday environments since coming forward, something I know I should have done sooner."Kouimanis was sentenced to eight years' jail in the Beenleigh District Court. (ABC News: Craig Fitzsimmons)The man said he felt "judged" because of what happened and was working to rebuild his life."The shame I carried for years is something I still struggle with every day. I feel as though a part of me is broken, and I'm learning how to rebuild from the wreckage," he said in the statement."This abuse has taken so much from me — my peace, my stability, my relationships, and even my sense of self."Appeal expectedKouimanis will be eligible for parole after 50 per cent of the sentence has been served.The 77-year-old had already served 164 days behind bars prior to sentencing.He is expected to lodge an appeal against his convictions.Posted 31m ago31 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 9:57pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesThe 9,000-product catch behind Bunnings's biggest price guaranteeTopic:Retail IndustryPhoto shows A person in a Bunnings apron stands in a Bunnings aisle.Video shows baby girl being hit in face by laughing childcare workerTopic:Child CarePhoto shows A still from a Snapchat video shows a baby on a bouncer crying.Zelenskyy agrees to meet Putin face-to-face for Ukraine war talksTopic:Unrest, Conflict and WarPhoto shows Volodymyr Zelensky, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron stand at Memorial Wall of Fallen Defenders of UkraineIs Chalmers prepared to follow Keating into the 'slaying' business?AAnalysis by Alan KohlerPhoto shows Jim Chalmers walks into QT smiling.Nationals in Canberra to pick leader as Canavan challenges LittleproudLIVEPhoto shows Heated exchanges in the hallways of parliament house over visas for Palestinians fleeing GazaPopular nowThe 9,000-product catch behind Bunnings's biggest price guaranteeTopic:Retail IndustryPhoto shows A person in a Bunnings apron stands in a Bunnings aisle.Video shows baby girl being hit in face by laughing childcare workerTopic:Child CarePhoto shows A still from a Snapchat video shows a baby on a bouncer crying.Is Chalmers prepared to follow Keating into the 'slaying' business?AAnalysis by Alan KohlerPhoto shows Jim Chalmers walks into QT smiling.Related topicsBrisbaneChild Sexual AbuseCrimeMermaid BeachSexual OffencesTop StoriesThe 9,000-product catch behind Bunnings's biggest price guaranteeTopic:Retail IndustryPhoto shows A person in a Bunnings apron stands in a Bunnings aisle.Video shows baby girl being hit in face by laughing childcare workerTopic:Child CareZelenskyy agrees to meet Putin face-to-face for Ukraine war talksTopic:Unrest, Conflict and WarIs Chalmers prepared to follow Keating into the 'slaying' business?AAnalysis by Alan KohlerNationals in Canberra to pick leader as Canavan challenges LittleproudTopic:Government and PoliticsJust InMajor Irish final postponed because camogie stars refuse to wear skortsTopic:Gaelic Sports15m ago15 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 10:13pmSurvivor of abuse by ex-police officer hopes to give others strengthTopic:Crime31m ago31 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 9:57pmThis Bomber has finally arrived and can supercharge club's stuttering buildCAnalysis by Chris De Silva53m ago53 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 9:35pm21yo man's dying wish for his father fulfilled by English football playerTopic:Brain Tumor54m ago54 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 9:34pmMore Just InBack to top