Court hears doctor unknowingly talked to self-described paedophile vigilante

A 41-year-old Perth paediatrician alleged to have sexually assaulted child patients was unknowingly communicating online with a self-described paedophile vigilante, a court has heard. Chia Liang Saw is facing 53 charges, including sexual penetration, indecent dealing, indecently recording and using electronic communication to procure a child for sexual activity. The court has been told that 20 of the electronic communication charges involve someone who Dr Saw's lawyer described as a vigilante taking on a "child persona". A paediatrician alleged to have sexually assaulted child patients was unknowingly communicating online with a self-described paedophile vigilante, Perth Magistrates Court has heard. Chia Liang Saw, 41, is facing 53 charges, including sexual penetration, indecent dealing, indecently recording and using electronic communication to procure a child for sexual activity. The court heard that Dr Saw allegedly used hidden cameras in his Nedlands and Midland consulting rooms. The court was told today that 20 of the electronic communication charges involved someone who Dr Saw's lawyer described as a vigilante taking on a "child persona". "This is a person that doesn't exist," lawyer Alex Smith said, pointing out that it wasn't police or an "agent of police". Magistrate Matthew Walton said the "self-described vigilante" had set up an account and allegedly engaged in conversations with Dr Saw, purporting to be a child, as police did as part of legitimate investigations. Mr Smith told the court that the "third party" had then provided those messages to WA Police. The police prosecutor said new charges were yet to be laid in relation to a child interview that had been carried out on the weekend. Magistrate Walton had sought clarity on information about emails, and Detective Senior Sergeant Chantal Langthorn told the court Dr Saw had emailed an alleged victim while she was in school, and she had responded. Senior Sergeant Langthorn said it raised concerns about alleged "grooming behaviour". Mr Smith said his client accepted there were "professional boundaries that were overstepped". While Dr Saw has not been charged in relation to that email content, the magistrate said the "alleged emails are very hard to explain". He said Dr Saw was facing serious charges and a term of imprisonment if he was convicted of all or some of them. But the magistrate said they were only allegations at this stage, and noted that a trial in the District Court was potentially more than two years away. He ordered a home detention report and adjourned the bail hearing for a week. Dr Saw, who has yet to enter any pleas, has been suspended from practising as a doctor.