A shocking case has emerged in Victoria’s Supreme Court, where a 28-year-old trainee doctor is accused of secretly recording hundreds of female medical colleagues in hospital restrooms over several years.
Authorities allege that Ryan Cho, a junior surgeon, filmed more than 4,500 intimate videos of staff members using hidden phones placed in restrooms at three major Melbourne hospitals since 2021. Police say at least 460 women were unknowingly recorded, with investigators preparing up to 500 separate charges against him.
Cho was released on bail Friday after spending a month in custody. His parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne to support him, posted a $50,000 AUD ($32,000 USD) surety to secure his release. Justice James Elliott ordered that Cho live with his family and surrender his passport.
While Cho gained permanent residency in April, prosecutors warned that a conviction carrying a prison sentence of 12 months or more could lead to deportation. They argued he had few ties left in Australia after being suspended from his medical role.
Police allege Cho’s actions came to light in July when a hidden phone was discovered inside a mesh bag in a restroom at Austin Hospital. Further investigations linked him to similar recordings at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Though prosecutors raised concerns about potential witness interference, Cho’s lawyer, Julian McMahon, countered that the scale of allegations… with potentially hundreds of witnesses… made such interference unlikely to alter the case outcome.
Cho initially faced six charges, but prosecutors added 127 new counts last week, including intentionally filming intimate images without consent. Authorities emphasize there is no evidence so far that the videos were distributed online.
Cho has not yet entered a plea, and it remains unclear whether the case will proceed to trial.