The camera was allegedly hidden inside a bathroom at the North Canberra Hospital’s emergency department on 7 January. Photo: James Coleman.
CONTENT WARNING: This article contains distressing content.
A hidden camera was allegedly installed inside a Canberra hospital’s emergency department bathroom and captured members of the public, including a 10-year-old child.
It is alleged a man entered a public bathroom in the North Canberra Hospital and installed a small camera underneath the sink on 7 January, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
Cleaners found the camera two weeks later and the incident was reported to police.
Police used CCTV footage to find the alleged offender, 54-year-old Koroush Ghazi and searched his home in Civic on Wednesday (4 February).
“The man was arrested and several electronic devices, including storage devices and a mobile phone, were seized. A review of these items is under way,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Ghazi was charged with one count of capturing intimate visual data when he phoned in to the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
The court heard he did not appear in court in person as he had been in hospital due to issues with his long-standing diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
The prosecutor opposed him being granted bail and alleged a 10-year-old child appeared to be in the recordings.
Michael Kukulies-Smith of Kamy Saeedi Law, when applying for bail Mr Ghazi, said while the allegations against his client involved a breach of people’s privacy, there were no claims of actual threats or violence.
There was also no allegation that his client tried to use the recordings in a nefarious way, like blackmail.
Mr Kukulies-Smith said his client currently had accommodation in Civic and received around-the-clock care from his National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider for his Parkinson’s disease.
Magistrate James Lawton said the prosecutor’s concerns about releasing Mr Ghazi from custody mostly related to his mental health.
He said Mr Ghazi appeared to be supervised by his NDIS provider. The magistrate said he would release him on bail on the conditions he live in Civic and not possess any covert recording device.
The matter was adjourned to 5 March. No plea was entered.
Meanwhile, police have asked members of the public who used a public bathroom at the North Canberra Hospital emergency waiting room between 8:30 pm and midnight on 7 January to provide their details to Crime Stoppers by clicking here. Quote 8279987.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.
If you have been affected by sexual violence, or someone you know has, you can report it to police by attending a police station or phoning 131 444.
