The hushed whispers in the hallowed halls of City General Hospital spoke volumes.

A trainee doctor, 27-year-old Liam Davies, faced accusations that sent shockwaves through the medical community: secretly filming hundreds of female colleagues in the hospital restrooms.

The revelation, which came to light after a suspicious USB drive was discovered in a discarded bin, sparked outrage and a wave of fear amongst the predominantly female staff.

The USB drive contained hundreds of short video clips, allegedly recorded over a period of several months.

Each clip showed women using the restrooms – some unaware, others seemingly oblivious to the small, strategically placed recording device Davies is suspected of using.

The videos varied in length and quality, but their existence alone was enough to shatter the trust and sense of security within the hospital's close-knit community.

The investigation, spearheaded by the hospital's internal affairs department and supported by local police, moved swiftly.

Davies was immediately suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry.

His colleagues, many of whom had worked alongside him for years, were left reeling.

Descriptions of him ranged from "quiet and unassuming" to "a bit odd, but nothing alarming.

" The stark contrast between the perceived persona and the alleged actions amplified the sense of betrayal and vulnerability.

The incident triggered an outpouring of emotion among the hospital's female staff.

Many expressed feelings of violation, anger, and anxiety.

Support groups were established, providing a safe space for victims to share their experiences and receive counseling.

The hospital administration, facing intense pressure from staff and the media, promised a thorough investigation and vowed to implement stricter security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The legal ramifications for Davies were significant.

He faced multiple charges of voyeurism and potential breaches of data protection laws.

The prospect of a lengthy prison sentence hung over him, along with the inescapable social stigma associated with his alleged actions.

His career as a doctor, once promising, now lay in ruins.

The case served as a stark reminder of the insidious nature of voyeurism and the crucial need for robust security measures in public spaces, especially in environments where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

The incident also highlighted the lasting impact such crimes have on victims, underscoring the importance of support systems and accountability for perpetrators.

The hushed whispers in City General Hospital continued, but now they carried a heavier weight, a grim testament to the breach of trust and the lasting scars left by Davies' alleged actions.

Melbourne, Australia — A trainee surgeon was released from custody on bail Friday after he was accused of secretly video recording hundreds of medical colleagues in the restrooms of Australian hospitals.

Ryan Cho, 28, will likely face around 500 charges relating to 4,500 intimate videos he secretly recorded with phones mainly in the staff restrooms of three Melbourne hospitals since 2021, police alleged in documents cited in the Victoria state Supreme Court.

Justice James Elliott ruled that the junior doctor be released on the condition he live with his parents, who moved from Singapore to Melbourne in anticipation of their son's month in prison ending. His parents were required to post a 50,000 Australian dollar ($32,000) surety.

The prosecutor argued that Cho had no meaningful ties to Australia after being suspended from his job and the charges against him could be an inducement to flee. While Cho became an Australian permanent resident in April, he would face deportation if he was convicted and sentenced to 12 months or longer in prison, Hammill said.

The judge noted Cho had surrendered his Singapore passport and had no criminal connections to help him leave Australia.

Cho ignored reporters' questions as he left the court building wearing sunglasses over his prescription glasses and a surgical face mask.

Police allege Cho recorded intimate images of at least 460 women. The judge noted there was no allegation Cho had disseminated those images.

Cho was arrested in July after a phone was found recording from inside a mesh bag hanging in an Austin Hospital restroom. Police allege he also recorded in restrooms in the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

His lawyer Julian McMahon rejected prosecutors' fears that if released, Cho could interfere with witnesses. There were likely to be hundreds of witnesses alleging similar offenses, McMahon said.

"There's a sense here that if my client were to engage in the criminal offense of interfering with witnesses that it wouldn't affect the outcome of the case," McMahon said.

Cho was initially charged with six offenses but another 127 charges were added Thursday, including intentionally recording intimate images without permission.

McMahon said it was too early to tell if the allegations would go to trial. Cho hasn't entered pleas.

Cho came to Australia as a student in 2017 and studied medicine at Melbourne's Monash University. 

In similar case, a former Pittsburgh area hospital employee in a bathroom at the West Penn Hospital during his trial in early 2021. A judge sentenced Guy Caley to 11 to 22 months in prison followed by 10 years of probation. 

He pleaded guilty in May 2021 to 89 counts in connection with secretly videotaping the people.