NEED TO KNOW
- A trainee doctor in Melbourne, Australia, is facing a slew of charges after authorities allege he secretly filmed hundreds of colleagues in the bathroom
- Ryan Cho, 28, is facing more than 130 charges and was released on bail on Friday, Aug. 22
- Cho is accused of placing hidden cameras in the bathrooms of at least three hospitals
A trainee doctor in Melbourne, Australia, is facing a slew of charges after authorities allege he secretly filmed hundreds of colleagues in different hospital bathrooms, according to multiple news reports.
Ryan Cho, 28, is facing more than 130 charges including stalking, producing intimate images and secretly installing surveillance devices, the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) reported, citing police. Authorities allege he had about 4,500 inappropriate photos and videos of the alleged female victims on his electronic devices, per the outlet.
According to investigators, at least 450 alleged victims were caught on the hidden cameras allegedly placed by Cho in the bathrooms of Austin Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and the Royal Melbourne Hospital since 2021, ABC, News.com.au and CBS News reported.
Cho, who worked at Austin Hospital, was arrested on July 10 after an employee spotted a cell phone recording in a bathroom, News.com.au reported, citing police.
He was released on bail Friday, Aug. 22, by a judge in Victorian Supreme Court who placed Cho on strict conditions. Those include a curfew, living with his parents — who were ordered to pay a $32,000 surety — psychological treatment and a ban from hospitals unless it’s an emergency, according to the outlets.
Cho, who is from Singapore, also surrendered his passport.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Cho’s lawyer, Julian McMahon SC, has said no evidence shows his client distributed the material or physically threatened the alleged victims, per ABC. Cho has yet to enter a plea.
“We’ve got a complicated young professional man with what will eventually be understood as complex psychiatric issues together with criminal conduct,” McMahon said of his client, per New.com.au.
Authorities have reportedly said it’s unclear how many more potential victims there are, but they are continuing to investigate.
Read the full article here