M'sian paediatrician in Perth, 41, faces 57 charges after sexually abusing young patients, granted bail

A Malaysian paediatrician in Perth who is accused of sexually abusing children, including his own young patients, has been granted home detention bail, even as four fresh child sex charges were laid against him.

Chia Liang Saw, 41, now faces a total of 57 charges, up from the 53 he had been facing, after he appeared at Perth Magistrates Court on Friday (Jul. 10) via video link, Australian media reported.

From two charges to 57

Saw, a dual Malaysian-Australian citizen, was first arrested and charged in May with one count of persistent sexual conduct with a child, and one count of possessing child exploitation material, according to WAtoday.

His 57 charges now include multiple counts of producing child exploitation material, indecently dealing with and indecently recording children, one count of sexual penetration of a child over 13 and under 16, and 20 counts of using electronic communication to procure a child to engage in sexual activity, reported ABC News.

Allegedly filmed abuse on hidden cameras

It is alleged that Saw installed hidden cameras in his Nedlands and Midland consulting rooms, where he treated children with behavioural issues, and recorded himself abusing them, reported ABC News.

The alleged victims are mainly young female patients aged between 12 and 15, who had been receiving treatment for behavioural issues.

The others include a 10-year-old girl who police allege was abused in a home, and a child allegedly exploited online in 2022.

The court heard that Saw had allegedly stalked victims via social media, and had used the Sugar Daddy dating website.

Saw's lawyer Alex Smith said the clinic recordings were allegedly made to protect Saw against any accusations of "untoward behaviour".

The lawyer acknowledged that his client's name was now "mud", but noted that Saw had no criminal record.

Home detention

The magistrate granted Saw home detention bail after a report deemed his home address suitable, according to WAtoday, and imposed more than a dozen conditions.

Saw must remain at his home address, wear an electronic monitoring device, and will not be released from Hakea Prison until the monitoring is installed and approved at the property.

He is barred from coming within 50m of his alleged victims, from any unsupervised contact with children under 16 apart from his own, and must surrender any working with children card or authority.

He was also ordered to provide a AUD$500,000 (S$450,000) personal undertaking, along with a AUD$750,000 (S$675,000) surety.

The magistrate placed strict limits on Saw's access to communication devices as well, requiring that police be given the subscription number of any device within 48 hours, and barring social media apps from being installed.

Passport seized

Given his dual citizenship, Saw has had his passport seized, and has been ordered not to leave Western Australia or to come within 100m of the Malaysian consulate, reported WAtoday.

Smith said Saw's wife and children had voluntarily moved out of the family home, and that a "large suite of protections" had been put in place to guard against any re-offending.

Saw is listed in the Malaysian Medical Council's registered doctor database, with his graduating institution stated as the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur, the South China Morning Post reported.

When asked, his lawyer declined to comment on his nationality.

Saw is next due to appear in court on Oct. 30 for a committal hearing.