The head monk of a Buddhist temple has been remanded into custody after a jury convicted him of 17 child sexual abuse charges.

Naotunne Vijitha, 70, faced a four-week trial in the Victorian County Court after pleading not guilty to 19 charges of sexual penetration of a child aged under 16 and indecent act with a child under 16.

He was accused of abusing six girls aged between four and 12 inside his living Buddhist temple quarters, a prayer room and at Sunday school.

Prosecutors said Vijitha's abuse started after he moved to Melbourne from overseas to become head monk of the Dhamma Sarana Buddhist temple at Springvale in 1994.

The abuse continued after the temple moved to Keysborough in 2000.

The victims, who are now adults, all gave evidence to the jury in their trial, as

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