Tom Sun Yap to return to Maroochydore court in February 2023
The next steps in a former Sunshine Coast pediatrician’s case, where he is accused of child abuse material charges, have been revealed in court. Here is the latest.
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A former Sunshine Coast paediatrician accused of possessing and uploading child abuse material to the internet will return to court in February as his case finally moves forward.
Tom Sun Yap faces charges of using a carriage service to transmit child pornography material, possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage and possessing child exploitation material.
He is yet to enter a plea.
His matter was briefly mentioned in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on January 19, 2023, where the next steps in his case moving forward were revealed.
Defence lawyer Chelsea Emery told the court Mr Yap’s counsel had now received the statement of facts and brief of evidence. She asked for a four-week adjournment.
The court was told police had also completed analysis of Mr Yap’s various devices.
According to LinkedIn Mr Yap had been working as a consultant paediatrician at the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, which included the Gympie Hospital, for more than seven years.
A health service spokeswoman confirmed Mr Yap had been suspended from practising by their health service and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
In a statement released by the Health Ombudsman Mr Yap’s registration as a medical practitioner was suspended on June 15, 2022.
He will return to the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 16.
His charges sparked outcry from several parents who criticised the health service’s handling of the situation, claiming they’d been kept in the dark initially and then given different explanations for his absence.
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Originally published as Tom Sun Yap to return to Maroochydore court in February 2023
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