KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian doctor convicted of secretly recording intimate images of patients, colleagues, and friends has described himself as “selfish”, “wicked”, and “perverse” for his actions.
Nicholas Chia Wei Chu, 28, was released on parole from John Morony Correctional Centre on Thursday after being sentenced for multiple offences, local media reported.
Chu admitted to covertly photographing and filming 11 patients, including a 14-year-old, at Orange Health Service in central west New South Wales between January 2022 and February 2023.
He also secretly recorded videos of colleagues in a hospital change room and filmed friends in states of undress in their homes in Orange and Sydney.
The NSW District Court sentenced him to a maximum of one year in prison for producing child abuse material, linked to 21 images of the teenage patient. Judge Penny Musgrave imposed a six-month non-parole period, meaning Chu was released immediately due to time served.
However, he remains subject to a two-year Intensive Correction Order, requiring him to complete 480 hours of community service for offences involving adult victims. His medical registration has been suspended.
In a hand-written letter submitted to the court, Chu apologised for abusing his position of trust.
“I harmed them when I was supposed to help them,” he wrote. “I abused my responsibilities as a doctor and I did so serially. I’ve caused my patients to suffer by my selfish and wicked actions.”
He acknowledged damaging public trust in the medical profession and devaluing the work of his colleagues.
Chu moved from Malaysia to Sydney in 2016 to study medicine, with his father and aunt reportedly using their life savings to fund his education. In his letter, he expressed remorse for letting them down.
“I recognise what an irresponsible son and nephew I have been, one who squandered all the hard-earned opportunities for a better life,” he wrote.
While taking responsibility for his crimes, he said psychological treatment had helped him understand the roots of his behaviour. He revealed that childhood abandonment by his mother led to an “anxious-insecure attachment style” and that he had been diagnosed as a voyeur, misinterpreting lewd images as emotional intimacy.
Chu expressed gratitude to police for stopping his offending, admitting it had “spiralled out of control”.
“I will work hard and persevere through the challenges to become a better man each day,” he wrote.
As part of his court-imposed restrictions, Chu is prohibited from working unsupervised with others, is banned from entering the Orange region, and must allow police access to his electronic devices.
The Western NSW Local Health District issued an apology to his victims and confirmed that those identified by police were offered counselling.
“We sincerely apologise for the distress and ongoing impact that these actions by one individual have had on victims,” the statement read. – March 6, 2025