Perth Paediatrician Arrested on 33 Child S*xual Offence Charges After Hidden Cameras Found in Consulting Rooms
Perth paediatrician Saw Chia Liang remains in custody on 33 charges of child s*xual offences. Prosecutors allege hidden cameras in consulting rooms captured offences against up to nine victims. Saw's registration has been suspended, and his case follows previous convictions of Malaysian doctors in Australia and Ireland.
A 41-year-old Malaysian paediatrician based in Western Australia remains in police custody after being remanded on 33 charges of child s*xual offences and the possession of child exploitation material. Dr Saw Chia Liang appeared before the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, June 26, where prosecutors unsealed 31 new charges following a widening investigation that authorities state involves multiple children. The case marks the latest in a series of overseas legal prosecutions involving Malaysian medical practitioners.
Hidden Cameras Discovered in Consulting Rooms
According to Australian public broadcaster ABC, investigators allege that a portion of the offences was captured via hidden cameras installed inside medical consulting rooms. During initial court disclosures, police prosecutors indicated that data recovery and ongoing evidence analysis have led to the identification of "eight, possibly nine victims". Malaysia Enforces Ban on Social Media Accounts for Children Younger Than 16.
The official charge sheet against Saw details a pattern of persistent s*xual conduct with a child under the age of 16. It also includes counts of manufacturing and possessing child exploitation materials, creating indecent child recordings, and indecent dealing with a child under the age of 13. Court documents state that the alleged offences occurred across various Perth suburbs between November 2022 and May 2026.
Suspension of Medical Credentials
Saw, who has not yet entered a formal plea, did not apply for bail during his recent appearance. A spokesperson for the Western Australia court system confirmed that a formal bail hearing is scheduled to take place at 9:30 AM on Tuesday. Saw's defence counsel has declined to comment publicly on the matter or verify details regarding his client's background. Before his arrest, Saw operated as a consultant developmental paediatrician in Perth and held an appointment as a clinical lecturer at Curtin University. Following the initiation of the criminal police probe, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) issued an immediate suspension of Saw’s medical registration, legally barring him from practising medicine in Australia. Officials noted that the regulatory suspension is a protective measure and does not constitute a formal finding of guilt in court.
Context of Previous Medical Prosecutions
While defence representatives have withheld comment on Saw’s nationality, public database registries with the Malaysian Medical Council show an active entry for a "Saw Chia Liang" who graduated from the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur. The case mirrors two other high-profile international prosecutions involving Malaysian medical professionals operating abroad:
Amirul Arif Mohd Yunos: In December 2024, the Malaysian child psychiatrist was sentenced to eight and a half years in an Irish prison after entering a guilty plea to sexual offences involving a teenage girl.
- Nicholas Chia Wei Chu: In March 2025, the medical practitioner was released on parole in Australia after serving a six-month prison sentence. He admitted to covertly filming 11 individuals - including a 14-year-old patient, colleagues, and acquaintances - at Orange Health Service in New South Wales.
Both individuals were subsequently stripped of their professional licenses and struck off the medical registers in their respective practising countries. Saw remains remanded in custody pending his next scheduled appearance on June 30.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2026 05:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
