Malaysian doctor in Australia remanded over 33 child sex offence charges
A Malaysian paediatrician based in Perth has been remanded on 33 charges of child sexual offences and possession of child exploitation material, widening a case that Australian prosecutors say involves multiple children. The case adds to a list of child sex-related prosecutions involving Malaysian m
By Iman Muttaqin Yusof
A Malaysian paediatrician based in Perth has been remanded on 33 charges of child sexual offences and possession of child exploitation material, widening a case that Australian prosecutors say involves multiple children.
The case adds to a list of child sex-related prosecutions involving Malaysian medical practitioners overseas, including a child psychiatrist jailed in Ireland in 2024, and another doctor convicted in Australia last year.
Saw Chia Liang, 41, remains in custody after his latest appearance at a Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, when he was charged with 31 new offences, according to Australian public broadcaster SBS.
A Western Australia court spokeswoman told This Week in Asia on Wednesday there was “no application for bail on that day” and that the bail hearing would be held at 9.30am on Tuesday.
According to court documents, Saw’s charges include persistent sexual conduct with a child under 16, possession and production of child exploitation materials, indecent child recordings and indecent dealing with a child under 13.
The offences were allegedly committed in Perth between November 2022 and May this year. Saw did not enter a plea.
Public broadcaster ABC reported earlier this month that a Perth court was told the alleged offences had been captured on “hidden cameras” in consulting rooms, with a police prosecutor saying investigators had identified “eight, possibly nine victims”.
Saw’s lawyer declined to comment, including on his nationality, when asked for further details. But This Week in Asia checks found “Saw Chia Liang” listed in the Malaysian Medical Council’s registered doctor search database, with his graduating institution stated as the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur.
According to Australian media, Saw worked as a consultant developmental paediatrician in Perth and a clinical lecturer at Curtin University.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency suspended Saw’s medical registration, meaning he could not practise in Australia, the ABC reported, noting, however, that the suspension did not amount to a finding of guilt.
The case follows other overseas prosecutions involving Malaysian medical professionals.
Child psychiatrist Amirul Arif Mohd Yunos was sentenced in December 2024 to eight and a half years in an Irish prison after pleading guilty to sexual offences involving a teenage girl, according to media reports.
In Australia, Nicholas Chia Wei Chu was sentenced to six months’ jail and released on parole in March 2025 for covertly recording patients, colleagues and friends. Australian media reported that the doctor admitted to filming 11 patients, including a 14-year-old, at Orange Health Service in New South Wales between January 2022 and February 2023.
Both have been struck off the medical register in the respective countries.