Perth paediatrician granted bail despite four new child sex charges
A Perth pediatrician facing a string of child sex charges has been granted bail despite four new charges against him.
Dr Chia Liang Saw was arrested in May and charged with continuous sexual intercourse with a child between 2023 and 2026 and possession of child abuse material.
A. a number of new charges were added Last month, the charges included producing child abuse material, having inappropriate relations with a child over 13 and under 16, indecently recording a child under 16 and one count of sexual intercourse with a child over 13.
Four more charges were added to the list of charges when Saw appeared in Perth Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea Prison on Friday; one count of improperly dealing with a child between the ages of 13 and 16, and three counts of improperly recording a child over the age of 13 and under the age of 16.
The latest accusations include an alleged new victim, bringing the total number of accusers to 11.
It is stated that Saw is currently facing a total of 57 charges and that his arrest was prompted by a complaint from one of his young patients.
Police have previously said Saw was a developmental paediatrician who specialized in behavioral problems affecting children and performed surgeries in various parts of Perth.
He was suspended from training until the charges against him were finalized.
The alleged attack took place between November 2022 and May 2026 in the Perth suburbs of Wembley, Nedlands and Midland.
Saw’s lawyer, Alex Smith, told the court that three of the latest charges were based on a thumbnail found on a personal electronic device.
Judge Matthew Walton said the case was a complex one with multiple complainants and imposed strict bail conditions on the defendants, adding that he thought it was highly likely that there would be further charges.
However, Walton added that a fundamental principle of the Australian legal system is that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“This is a very comprehensive list of the bail conditions that apply to you,” he told Saw.
“If you are found to have breached bail, you will most likely remain in custody for an extended period of time.”
Saw’s bail conditions include not coming within 50 meters of the alleged victims and not having contact with minors other than his own children.
The doctor must also submit a card or authorization to work with children; The doctor will remain under home surveillance and will be fitted with an electronic monitoring device.
Saw will also be required to post an increased bail of $750,000, as well as a personal commitment of $500,000.
He will not be released from Hakea Prison until electronic monitoring is established and approved at his home detention address.
Saw’s wife and children voluntarily left the property and a broad protection package against re-offending was put in place, Smith said.
Saw’s passport was also confiscated, and he was instructed not to come within 100 meters of the Malaysian consulate and not to attempt to leave the state.
Walton also noted the strict conditions on Saw’s access to communications devices.
“You must report the device’s subscription number to the police within 48 hours,” he said.
“You should not allow any social media application to be installed on a mobile or electronic communication device.”
Prosecutors also added a requirement that the device’s security password and the name of the service provider be given to the police.
Saw’s next hearing will be held on October 30.
