Ryan Cho: Melbourne surgeon allegedly secretly recorded hospital staff using toilet, showering
Ryan Cho, whose medical licence was suspended earlier this month, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday evening.
The 28-year-old was initially arrested on July 10 after staff at the Austin Hospital allegedly located a mobile phone recording in an employee bathroom.
The court was told he was charged with stalking and using an optical surveillance device and bailed by police.
But Mr Cho was rearrested on Friday after police allegedly located 4500 intimate videos and photos categorised and labelled on a laptop hard drive seized that contained 10,374 total files.
He was charged with five new offences – three counts of producing intimate images, one count using an optical surveillance device and one count failing to comply with direction to assist.
Called to give evidence, Senior Constable Neral Baykur told the court Mr Cho was allegedly identified through an internal Austin Hospital investigation after a mesh bag containing a mobile phone, powerbank and clothes was located in a staff toilet.
She said three hours of video footage allegedly located on the phone captured seven minutes of Mr Cho setting up the device before five people used the toilet over the following 40 minutes.
Senior Constable Baykur said police allegedly identified folders believed to represent the Austin Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
She said videos allegedly date between 2021 and 2025 and capture staff using toilet or shower facilities.
'The accused has named at least 460 victims in total,' she said.
'However we have not yet confirmed 'yes those are the victims'.'
Senior Constable Baykur said another 5222 files allegedly located in a folder titled 'other' appears to be a residential setting.
The officer strongly opposed bail, alleging Mr Cho was a flight risk, had limited ties to the community as a Singapore national who could no longer work in his field and could interfere with witnesses.
She agreed there was likely the potential for further charges if additional alleged victims are identified.
Senior Constable Baykur said the accused man's alleged actions appeared to be 'calculated and obsessed', requiring enormous amounts of time.
She told the court the allegations were likely to have a 'significant impact' on the community, noting Austin Hospital staff are now fearful to use internal facilities.
The officer said the alleged material from the Austin Hospital appeared to have been created in 2025, Peter MacCallum Centre from 2024, Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2024 and 2025 and a fourth folder titled 'Med' was from 2022 to 2023.
Mr Cho's lawyer, George Balot, applied for bail for his client noting his parents had arrived into the country, were offering a $10,000 bail guarantee and would monitor his bail compliance.
Mr Balot told the court his client had commenced treatment with both a psychologist and a sexologist after his initial arrest.
'It is conceded it is a strong prosecution case,' he said.
'What we say Your Honour is the risk of reoffending … can be managed and it can be managed by special conditions.'
Mr Balot said his client had complied with bail for the past two weeks 'impeccably', was prepared to forgo access to a mobile phone and would be strictly monitored by his parents if released.
'They're mortified by the allegations and they want to make sure he's treated as soon as possible and not in a custodial setting,' he said.
Mr Ballot said Mr Cho had enrolled in a program for alleged sex offenders set to begin in August and noted the charges would be contested.
The court was told Mr Cho became a permanent resident of Australia in 2017 where he completed his doctorate in medicine at Monash University in 2022.
Refusing bail, Magistrate James Henderson said he was not satisfied the risk posed by Mr Cho could be mitigated with conditions.
'The allegations at this stage are of course serious allegations they relate to a huge amount of intimate videos,' he said.
'There is said to be 10,000 files in existence, there has been careful classification of those files said to contain intimate depictions of … people toileting and showering in staff facilities without their knowledge.'
In a statement, Victoria Police said investigators had identified several additional hospitals between 2020 and 2025 as workplaces of interest.
'Police have begun the process of contacting the additional hospitals and those potentially impacted during the time of the man's employment. This process is due to take some time,' a spokeswoman said.
Mr Cho is expected to return to court in November 2025.
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