A former doctor, Nicholas Chia Wei Chu, has expressed profound remorse for his actions after being convicted of secretly recording intimate images of patients, colleagues, and friends. Describing himself as “selfish,” “wicked,” and “perverse,” the 28-year-old was released on parole from John Morony Correctional Centre shortly after being sentenced for multiple offenses.
Chu admitted to covertly filming 11 patients, including a minor, at Orange Health Service in New South Wales between January 2022 and February 2023. His misconduct extended to capturing videos of colleagues in a hospital change room and friends in private settings, including their bathrooms and bedrooms in Orange and Sydney.
In the NSW District Court, Chu received a maximum one-year sentence for producing child abuse material associated with 21 intimate images of the teenage victim, with a six-month non-parole period. This allowed him to leave jail immediately due to time already served. However, he remains under a two-year Intensive Correction Order, which includes 480 hours of community service for other charges related to adult victims.
In response to the distress caused by Chu’s actions, the Western NSW Local Health District publicly apologised to the affected individuals, stating that counselling has been offered to those identified by police. Chu’s medical registration has been suspended, and he issued a handwritten apology to the court, acknowledging that he had harmed those he was meant to help and admitting to abusing his responsibilities as a doctor.
In his letter, Chu reflected on his actions, stating, “I’ve caused my patients to suffer by my selfish and wicked actions,” and recognised the damage done to public trust in the medical profession. He also expressed regret over disappointing his family, who had sacrificed their savings for his education.
Chu’s time in prison has included sessions with a psychologist, during which he learned that his mother’s abandonment as a child contributed to an “anxious-insecure attachment style.” Diagnosed as a voyeur, he claimed his mind had misrepresented voyeuristic images as emotional intimacy.
He expressed gratitude to the police for intervening before his conduct escalated further. Chu committed to personal growth, stating he would work hard to become a better person moving forward. Under court orders, he is prohibited from working unsupervised with others, must stay out of the Orange region, and is subject to police access to his electronic devices.