Doctor accused of secretly recording 4,500 videos in Australian hospital restrooms released on bail
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Shocking Scandal: Doctor Allegedly Filmed 4,500 Videos in Australian Hospital Restrooms
Ryan Cho, 28, faces approximately 500 charges linked to 4,500 intimate videos recorded since 2021. The shocking allegations have raised serious concerns about privacy and safety in healthcare settings. Cho was arrested in July when a phone was discovered recording from a bag in an Austin Hospital restroom. The case has drawn significant media attention, especially as it unfolds in a country known for its stringent privacy laws.
apnews.com
A trainee surgeon in Melbourne has been released on bail after being accused of secretly recording hundreds of medical colleagues in hospital restrooms. Ryan Cho, 28, faces approximately 500 charges linked to 4,500 intimate videos recorded since 2021. The shocking allegations have raised serious concerns about privacy and safety in healthcare settings.
6 Key Takeaways Trainee surgeon accused of secret recordings
Approximately 500 charges expected against Cho
Released on bail with parental supervision
No evidence of disseminating recorded images
Arrest followed discovery of recording device
Cho studied medicine at Monash University
Cho was arrested in July when a phone was discovered recording from a bag in an Austin Hospital restroom. The case has drawn significant media attention, especially as it unfolds in a country known for its stringent privacy laws. As of August 22, 2025, Cho has yet to enter pleas, and his future remains uncertain.
Fast Answer: A Melbourne surgeon faces 500 charges for secretly recording colleagues, raising serious privacy concerns in healthcare settings worldwide.
This case highlights the critical issue of privacy within professional environments. How can institutions ensure the safety of their staff? The implications of such violations extend beyond individual cases, affecting trust in healthcare systems globally.
Privacy violations can lead to a loss of trust in medical professionals.
Healthcare institutions may need to implement stricter surveillance and security measures.
Legal ramifications could prompt changes in privacy laws worldwide.
The global relevance of this case underscores the urgent need for enhanced privacy protections in all professional environments.
As this situation develops, it serves as a reminder for institutions to prioritize the safety and privacy of their employees, ensuring such incidents are prevented in the future.
Trainee doctor accused of secretly recording video of hundreds of female colleagues in hospital restrooms
Ryan Cho, 28, will likely face around 500 charges relating to 4,500 intimate videos he secretly recorded with phones. The junior doctor was released on the condition he live with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne in anticipation of their son’s month in prison ending. The prosecutor argued that Cho had no meaningful ties to Australia after being suspended from his job and the charges against him could be an inducement to flee. Cho ignored reporters’ questions as he left the court building wearing sunglasses over his prescription glasses and a surgical face mask. The judge noted there was no allegation Cho had disseminated those images.
Ryan Cho, 28, will likely face around 500 charges relating to 4,500 intimate videos he secretly recorded with phones mainly in the staff restrooms of three Melbourne hospitals since 2021, police alleged in documents cited in the Victoria state Supreme Court.
Justice James Elliott ruled that the junior doctor be released on the condition he live with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne in anticipation of their son’s month in prison ending. His parents were required to post a 50,000 Australian dollar ($32,000) surety.
Trainee surgeon Ryan Cho leaves the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, Aug. 22, 2025. Con Chronis/AAP Image/AP
The prosecutor argued that Cho had no meaningful ties to Australia after being suspended from his job and the charges against him could be an inducement to flee. While Cho became an Australian permanent resident in April, he would face deportation if he was convicted and sentenced to 12 months or longer in prison, Hammill said.
The judge noted Cho had surrendered his Singapore passport and had no criminal connections to help him leave Australia.
Cho ignored reporters’ questions as he left the court building wearing sunglasses over his prescription glasses and a surgical face mask.
Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women. The judge noted there was no allegation Cho had disseminated those images.
Cho was arrested in July after a phone was found recording from inside a mesh bag hanging in an Austin Hospital restroom. Police allege he also recorded in restrooms in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
His lawyer Julian McMahon rejected prosecutors’ fears that if released, Cho could interfere with witnesses. There were likely to be hundreds of witnesses alleging similar offenses, McMahon said.
“There’s a sense here that if my client were to engage in the criminal offense of interfering with witnesses that it wouldn’t affect the outcome of the case,” McMahon said.
Cho was initially charged with six offenses but another 127 charges were added Thursday, including intentionally recording intimate images without permission.
McMahon said it was too early to tell if the allegations would go to trial. Cho hasn’t entered pleas.
Cho came to Australia as a student in 2017 and studied medicine at Melbourne’s Monash University.
In similar case, a former Pittsburgh area hospital employee admitted to videotaping employees and patients in a bathroom at the West Penn Hospital during his trial in early 2021. A judge sentenced Guy Caley to 11 to 22 months in prison followed by 10 years of probation.
He pleaded guilty in May 2021 to 89 counts in connection with secretly videotaping the people.
Doctor accused of secretly recording 4,500 videos in hospital bathroom released on bail
Ryan Cho, 28, is expected to face around 500 charges linked to 4,500 intimate videos he allegedly recorded with phones. Police allege these were primarily made in staff restrooms at three Melbourne hospitals since 2021. Justice James Elliott ruled the junior doctor could be released on condition he reside with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne anticipating his release. His parents were required to post a 50,000 Australian dollar surety. The judge noted there was no allegation Cho had disseminated those images.
Ryan Cho, 28, is expected to face around 500 charges linked to 4,500 intimate videos he allegedly recorded with phones. Police allege these were primarily made in staff restrooms at three Melbourne hospitals since 2021, as detailed in Victoria state Supreme Court documents.
Justice James Elliott ruled the junior doctor could be released on condition he reside with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne anticipating his release. His parents were required to post a 50,000 Australian dollar surety.
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The prosecutor argued that the charges presented Cho with an inducement to flee and he had no meaningful ties to Australia after being suspended from his job. While Cho became an Australian permanent resident in April, he would face deportation if he was convicted and sentenced to 12 months or longer in prison, Hammill said.
The judge noted Cho had surrendered his Singapore passport and had no criminal connections to help him leave Australia.
Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women. The judge noted there was no allegation Cho had disseminated those images.
The parents of trainee surgeon Ryan Cho, arrive at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Con Chronis/AAP Image via AP) (AAP IMAGE)
Cho was arrested in July after a phone was found recording from inside a mesh bag hanging in an Austin Hospital restroom. Police allege he also recorded in restrooms in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
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His lawyer Julian McMahon rejected prosecutors’ fears that if released, Cho could interfere with witnesses. There were likely to be hundreds of witnesses alleging similar offenses, McMahon said.
“There’s a sense here that if my client were to engage in the criminal offense of interfering with witnesses that it wouldn’t affect the outcome of the case,” McMahon said.
Cho was initially charged with six offenses but another 127 charges were added Thursday, including intentionally recording intimate images without permission.
McMahon said it was too early to tell if the allegations would go to trial. Cho hasn’t entered pleas.
Cho came to Australia as a student in 2017 and studied medicine at Melbourne’s Monash University.
Trainee doctor ‘bugged toilets in at least THREE hospitals to secretly film women’ as he’s charged with 130 offences
Ryan Cho, 28, is likely to face around 500 charges relating to 4,500 videos he secretly recorded since 2021, police said. He was arrested in July after a mobile phone was found recording from inside a mesh bag hanging in an Austin Hospital restroom. He is also accused of recording in restrooms in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women – leading to charges of stalking, producing intimate images and installing an optical surveillance device. His defence lawyer told the court that Cho has “complex” mental health issues. Cho was released by the judge to live with his parents – who have been required to pay 50,000 Australian dollars (£24,000)
‘PERV’ DOC Trainee doctor ‘bugged toilets in at least THREE hospitals to secretly film women’ as he’s charged with 130 offences
A TRAINEE doctor has been accused of secretly filming hundreds of women in at least three hospitals.
Ryan Cho, 28, is likely to face around 500 charges relating to 4,500 videos he secretly recorded since 2021, police said.
3 Trainee surgeon Ryan Cho leaving the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne Credit: AP
3 The parents of trainee surgeon Ryan Cho arrive at court in Melbourne Credit: AP
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3 Trainee surgeon, Ryan Cho is escorted into the Supreme Court of Victoria Credit: AP
The trainee surgeon was released on bail today after he was charged with secretly recording hundreds of medical colleagues in the toilets of Australian hospitals.
Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women – leading to charges relating to stalking, producing intimate images and installing an optical surveillance device.
He was arrested in July after a mobile phone was found recording from inside a mesh bag hanging in an Austin Hospital restroom.
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Cho, who moved to Australia as a student in 2017, is also accused of recording in restrooms in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
He was initially charged with six offences – but another 127 charges were added on Thursday, including intentionally recording intimate images without permission.
“It’s alleged a mobile phone was used as a recording device in staff toilets at all three hospitals named so far,” a police statement said.
“Police expect to identify further alleged victims; however, working through this process is expected to take some time.”
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Cho was released by the judge to live with his parents – who have been required to pay 50,000 Australian dollars (£24,000).
Although Cho became an Australian permanent resident in April, he would face deportation if he was convicted and sentenced to 12 months or longer in prison, the court said.
Cho’s lawyer Julian McMahon dismissed prosecutors fears Cho could interfere with witnesses if released.
I thought my sister’s doctor boyfriend was the ‘perfect gentleman’ but he abducted & killed her as she ran for her life
Justice James Elliott, who granted bail, said the risks to the community could be managed by “very strict conditions”.
McMahon said it was too early to tell if the allegations would go to trial.
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Dr Cho has been stood down from Austin Health, and records on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency reveal he is currently suspended and cannot practice in Australia, ABC reports.
Cho hasn’t entered pleas.
His defence lawyer told the court that Cho has “complex” mental health issues.
Barrister Julian McMahon SC told the Supreme Court the allegations would eventually be seen as “complex psychiatric and psychological issues together with criminal conduct”.
The lawyers also said he expects “hundreds” more charges to be laid by the end of the year, and that the case could meet lengthy delays.
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Prosecutors meanwhile said they expect the case to go trial in the second half of next year.
Russ Hammill, prosecuting, told the court the alleged offending “borders on the obsessive”.
Aussie doctor charged over 4,500 secret hospital videos out on bail
Ryan Cho, 28, faces nearly 500 charges linked to some 4,500 intimate videos allegedly captured on phones in staff restrooms at three Melbourne hospitals since 2021. Justice James Elliott ordered Cho’s release on the condition that he live with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne in anticipation of his release. The prosecutor argued that the charges gave Cho an incentive to flee and that he had no meaningful ties to Australia after being suspended from his job. The judge noted Cho had surrendered his Singapore passport and had no criminal connections that could help him leave Australia.
Ryan Cho, 28, faces nearly 500 charges linked to some 4,500 intimate videos allegedly captured on phones in staff restrooms at three Melbourne hospitals since 2021, according to documents cited in Victoria’s Supreme Court.
Justice James Elliott ordered Cho’s release on the condition that he live with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne in anticipation of his release. His parents were also required to post a AU$50,000 ($32,000) surety.
The prosecutor argued that the charges gave Cho an incentive to flee and that he had no meaningful ties to Australia after being suspended from his job. While Cho became an Australian permanent resident in April, he would face deportation if convicted and sentenced to 12 months or more in prison, prosecutor Hammill said.
Trainee surgeon, Ryan Cho is escorted into the Supreme Court of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo)
The judge noted Cho had surrendered his Singapore passport and had no criminal connections that could help him leave Australia.
Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women. The judge noted there is no allegation that Cho disseminated those images.
Cho was arrested in July after a phone was found recording from inside a mesh bag hanging in an Austin Hospital restroom. Police allege he also recorded in restrooms at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Cho’s lawyer, Julian McMahon, rejected prosecutors’ claims that Cho could interfere with witnesses if released. “There’s a sense here that if my client were to engage in the criminal offense of interfering with witnesses, it wouldn’t affect the outcome of the case,” McMahon said. He added that there are likely hundreds of witnesses alleging similar offenses.
Cho was initially charged with six offenses, but another 127 charges were added Thursday, including intentionally recording intimate images without permission.
McMahon said it is too early to tell whether the allegations will go to trial. Cho has not entered pleas.
Cho came to Australia as a student in 2017 and studied medicine at Melbourne’s Monash University.