Nicholas Chu: Malaysian doctor accused of taking unsolicited intimate images, producing child abuse material

A doctor has been charged with taking unsolicited intimate photographs of up to 10 people, including at a hospital in the state’s central west, a court heard. He has since been suspended from practising.

Pictured arriving at his home in Randwick is Nicholas Chu. Picture: Richard Dobson

A Malaysian doctor who allegedly took unsolicited intimate photographs of up to 10 people, including at a hospital in the state’s central west, has been suspended from practising in Australia, a court heard.

Nicholas Chu, 26, was granted bail after spending five days in custody on remand after a whopping $500,000 surety was put down by his father and a friend.

A police statement revealed that officers attached to Central West Police District launched an investigation under Strike Force Copyright in February following allegations of misconduct by an employee of a health service provider at Orange.

After further inquiries, Chu attended Maroubra police station about 8am on June 14, when he was arrested and refused bail. He was released on conditional liberty on June 19.

He previously appeared at Waverley Local Court on July 4 where he was represented by criminal lawyer Nick Hanna and has yet to enter pleas to 13 counts of intentionally record intimate image without consent, and two counts of produce child abuse material.

Nicholas Chu. Picture: Richard Dobson

It is understood the 26-year-old studied at UNSW before moving to Orange.

According to court documents, Chu’s alleged offending behaviour took place in Orange between January 2022 and February 2023, involving multiple complainants.

Chu is also accused of recording an intimate image without consent between January 2021 and February 10 this year at Randwick, court documents reveal.

As part of the 26-year-old’s bail conditions, he must not practice as a doctor or work in any clinical setting and cannot take any photos of any person for any reason.

Chu must live at Randwick and report to Randwick police station every day between 8am and 8pm. He was ordered to surrender his passport and not enter any international airport or other point of departure from Australia.

A Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) spokesman said Chu’s employment had been terminated and the matter was referred to the relevant registration authority.

“The WNSWLHD takes the wellbeing and privacy of its patients and staff very seriously and has co-operated fully with the police investigation,” he said.

An Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency spokeswoman confirmed Chu was suspended in March by the Medical Council of New South Wales, which also affirmed the suspension. It means he “cannot practise in Australia” while the suspension is in place.

The matter will return to Downing Centre Local Court on August 31.