Scale of the Privacy Breach
A 29-year-old former trainee doctor, Ryan Cho, pleaded guilty on Thursday to 13 rolled-up charges, including stalking, producing intimate images, and installing optical surveillance devices. The plea, entered at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, follows a massive police investigation that uncovered a cache of over 10,000 files, including 4,500 videos, captured secretly between 2020 and 2025.
The investigation revealed that Cho had systematically targeted victims—primarily female staff—at the Austin Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. In some instances at the Austin Hospital, Cho deliberately blocked toilet facilities to force users into a single cubicle where a mobile phone had been hidden in a mesh bag.
Court Proceedings and Institutional Impact
Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz detailed the extent of the surveillance, noting that hundreds of victims had been identified, with files meticulously categorized by name and workplace. The court heard that Cho had also installed cameras in share houses where he lived. The discovery of a camera by maintenance staff at the Austin Hospital in July 2025 triggered the initial police raid, which led to the seizure of the devices.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has since barred Cho from practising medicine. During Thursday’s proceedings, which were attended by dozens of victims via video link, the defense noted that Cho faces complex psychiatric and psychological challenges. The magistrate has extended his bail under strict conditions, including a $50,000 surety and a prohibition on carrying recording devices.
Cho is scheduled to appear at the County Court on November 23 for a three-day pre-sentence hearing, where victims will have the opportunity to provide impact statements.