The identity of a doctor accused of filming naked women and children in the changing rooms of a popular swimming pool is being protected by the court.
Daily Mail is unable to name the father of two, who continues to be employed at a general practice in Melbourne.
The Asian-born GP is alleged to have filmed women on his phone while they were undressed at the Harold Holt Swimming Centre in Melbourne’s Glen Iris.
The court heard at least one child, believed to be aged about three, was also allegedly recorded on the doctor’s phone while showering with their mother.
The doctor has worked across Victoria since moving to Australia.
The court heard evidence from his wife of almost two decades that their son was involved in a serious accident, which claimed the life of a close friend.
Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano agreed to impose an interim gag order protecting the accused’s name because of the ordeal his son had previously endured.
The doctor’s barrister Chris Terry successfully argued naming his client would cause undue stress to the already struggling child.
The Harold Holt Swimming Centre where the accused allegedly filmed women showering
A similar order was issued for convicted rapist Tom Silvagni until it was eventually overturned.
The doctor’s wife put up a $100,000 surety to secure his bail, telling the court she stood by him despite the serious allegations against him.
‘I will support him because he’s my husband and the father of my children – we’ll work through this together,’ she told the court.
‘I am shocked by the allegations, but he is still my husband and I will stand by him.’
The court heard police had executed a search warrant on the doctor’s home on Tuesday, where 20 electronic devices were seized.
A police informant said a woman was showering at the pool when she noticed a small black object at the bottom junction of the shower stalls.
Upon closer inspection, she realised it was a mobile phone positioned with the camera lens facing upward toward her.
The woman kicked the partition connecting the stalls, wrapped a towel around herself, and exited the cubicle.
The Harold Holt Swimming Centre in Glen Iris
She then noticed the adjoining stall was locked and occupied.
She immediately called for help, pointing toward the stall and stating that someone had filmed her while she was showering.
Staff members observed the accused exiting the shower stall and instructed him to remain at the centre while the matter was addressed.
The doctor remained at the centre until police arrived and handed over his phone when asked.
The court heard the doctor became anxious when he was asked to open the phone’s recently deleted folder.
‘The accused immediately tightened his grip on the phone,’ the officer told the court.
Police alleged multiple images were located depicting naked females showering, captured from a low, upward angle consistent with a device being positioned under a door or partition.
The images showed unidentified females nude, including their genital and bodily areas, the court heard.
Police are working to establish where else the doctor may have allegedly struck
The doctor faces five charges, including the production of child abuse material.
The court heard he refused to cooperate with police after his arrest, providing a ‘no comment’ interview.
In opposing bail, police said they feared the doctor would destroy evidence if allowed to return home.
They also suggested a preliminary analysis of the doctor’s phone indicated a pattern of offending dating back to at least 2024, suggesting ‘sustained and deliberate conduct’.
Detectives are still working to identify all the alleged victims, with two locations found on the doctor’s phone still to be pinned down.
The court heard the police investigation remains ongoing, with detectives expected to apply for an additional search warrant in relation to the accused’s workplace.
In applying for bail, the doctor’s barrister claimed his client felt ‘forced’ to hand over his phone to police.
Mr Terry indicated his client would step away from his GP role and would not oppose a condition preventing him from practicing medicine should he be released.
Tom Silvagni (pictured) was charged with two counts of rape in mid-2024. His lawyers argued for a suppression order on the basis he had a ‘substantial and imminent risk of psychiatric harm, including suicide’.
Mr Terry argued many offenders convicted for similar charges do not receive imprisonment, and if convicted any jail term may be shorter than time spent on remand.
Magistrate Caltabiano granted the doctor bail on the conditions that he handed over his passport, keeps away from public change rooms and his wife put up the $100,000 surety.
He is also forbidden from returning to work or to practise as a doctor.
The court allowed him to continue to possess a mobile phone.
Following the Silvagni case, Victoria’s Opposition leader Jess Wilson said the Liberals would review suppression order laws to ensure they worked as intended.
‘Suppression orders should not be used as a mechanism for offenders to hide from victims, the community or taking responsibility for their actions,’ she said.
The doctor will return to court next week when media outlets are expected to contest the gag order.
