Esteban Camilo Valbuena Balaguera used a hidden camera to film in shower

A Columbian student used a camera hidden in a speaker to record people showering in a Southport share house over a 10 day period.

Esteban Valbuena Balaguera outside Southport Courthouse.

A COLUMBIAN student used a camera hidden in a speaker to record people showering in a Southport share house during a 10-day period.

Esteban Camilo Valbuena Balaguera was only discovered when someone found the speaker in a shower later at a different location at a South Stradbroke Island resort while he was visiting.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Reece Foort told the court a person staying at the resort found the a blue speaker in the shower on May 11 this year.

They inspected the speaker and found a camera inside.

Police downloaded the footage which showed Valbuena Balaguera setting up the camera as well as footage of people showering in a share house in Southport between May 1 and May 10.

Sgt Foort said police were able to contact one of the women who confirmed she had not consented to being filmed.

One of the women recorded has already forgiven Valbuena Balaguera for making the recordings, the Southport Magistrates Court was told.

Valuena Balaguera, 27, yesterday pleaded guilty to making recordings in breach of privacy.

Magistrate Kerry Magee fined Valbuena Balaguera $1800 with no conviction record.

“You must have known it was wrong,” she said.

Magistrate Magee said it was “most relevant” the woman involved had forgiven him for the recordings.

“She is working with you to better your life,” she said.

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Defence lawyer Chris Hannay, of Hannay Lawyers, said Valbuena Balaguera, was in a guesthouse with five other people and was using the speaker to listen to music while showering.

“He is pretty embarrassed about it,” he said.

The qualified engineer arrived in Australia last year from Columbia to study project management.

He said Valbuena Balaguera’s working visa expired in March next year.