A Singaporean doctor has landed in serious legal trouble overseas, after being accused of covertly recording hundreds of colleagues in hospital bathrooms across Melbourne, Australia. The shocking case has rattled the Australian medical community and drawn international attention.
Ryan Cho, 27, was recently charged with multiple offences, including the alleged use of hidden surveillance devices and the production of intimate images without consent. Cho, who had studied and worked in Australia since 2017, is accused of planting hidden cameras in staff-only toilets within at least three major hospitals: Austin Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Devices Hidden in Hospital Bathrooms
Cho’s alleged activities first came to light on 3 July, when staff at Austin Hospital discovered a mobile phone concealed in a mesh bag hooked behind a toilet door in a restricted staff bathroom. The hook used was reportedly not installed by the hospital, raising immediate suspicions.
Authorities allege that this was not an isolated case. Further investigation uncovered similar setups across multiple floors and even in bathrooms accessible to patients. Police stated that Cho may have intentionally sabotaged other cubicles — by damaging locks and stuffing toilet paper — to ensure his intended targets used the stalls rigged with hidden cameras.
According to Victoria Police, a subsequent raid of Cho’s residence led to the discovery of more than 10,000 files on his devices. Among them were over 4,500 videos, allegedly recorded over four years from 2021 to 2025. These files were meticulously organised in subfolders named after his victims.
Over 560 Colleagues Allegedly Targeted
Authorities believe at least 560 individuals — comprising approximately 460 women and 100 men — were secretly filmed. Shockingly, most of these victims were fellow medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics. So far, only five individuals have been positively identified.
Police added that videos were not limited to hospital bathrooms — some were filmed in private residences. Investigators also noted that Cho refused to provide passwords to his encrypted devices, which has further complicated the digital forensic analysis.
Bail Revoked as Investigation Expands
Following his initial arrest on 10 July, Cho was charged with stalking and the use of an optical surveillance device. After the discovery of the vast trove of explicit footage, he was rearrested on 25 July and slapped with five additional charges — including three counts of producing intimate images and failing to comply with police directions.
He appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court the same day. His S$10,000 bail, reportedly paid by his parents who had flown in from Singapore, was revoked — leaving him in custody as investigations continue.
Police have stated that this is an “ongoing and extensive” case, as they reach out to other hospitals across Victoria where Cho had worked between 2020 and 2025. More charges are expected to follow as additional victims are identified.
Medical Registration Suspended
Cho, who began studying medicine at Monash University in 2017, had his medical registration suspended as the investigation gained traction. A 2018 Facebook video previously showed him performing with fellow students, reflecting a seemingly normal start to his medical journey — a sharp contrast to the disturbing allegations now levelled against him.
This case raises pressing questions about surveillance, workplace safety, and abuse of trust within healthcare institutions. For now, the Australian medical fraternity — and the wider public — awaits the outcome of what could become one of the largest medical workplace voyeurism cases in recent memory.