Nicholas Chu: Suspended doctor accused of taking unsolicited intimate images, producing child abuse material fronts court

The court case of the suspended Malaysian doctor who allegedly took unsolicited intimate photographs of up to 10 people, including at a hospital in the state’s central west has progressed with the brief “in the post” and on its way to his lawyer.

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

The court case of the suspended Malaysian doctor who allegedly took unsolicited intimate photographs of up to 10 people, including at a hospital in the state’s central west has progressed with the brief “in the post” and on its way to his lawyer.

Nicholas Chu, 26, of Randwick, appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday and is yet to enter pleas to 13 counts of intentionally record intimate image without consent, and two counts of produce child abuse material.

As previously reported by this publication, a police statement revealed officers from the 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 in Orange.

Following further inquiries, Chu attended Maroubra police station about 8am on June 14 and he was later arrested and refused bail.

He was released on conditional liberty on June 19 after spending five days in custody on remand after a whopping $500,000 surety was put down by his father and a friend.

Nicholas Chu. Picture: Richard Dobson

According to court documents previously tendered in court, Chu’s alleged offending behaviour took place in Orange between January, 2022, and February, 2023, and involved 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.

In court on Thursday, Chu was represented by criminal lawyer Nick Hanna who said the “brief has been prepared, but not yet served”.

“The copy [was] in the post and on its way,” he said.

The matter was adjourned by Magistrate Jennifer Atkinson to September 14 for a brief status mention.

This publication previously reported that an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency spokeswoman confirmed Chu was suspended in March by the Medical Council of New South Wales and “cannot practise in Australia” while it remains in place.