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The identity of a family GP accused of filming women and children using showers at Melbourne public pools can now be revealed after a gag order over his name was lifted.
Thanh-Thuan Nguyen, of Hawthorn, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court earlier this year after he was arrested at the Harold Holt pool in Glen Iris for allegedly filming under shower cubicle doors.
However, he was granted a secrecy order which prevented his identity being published after arguing any public knowledge of his name would put the psychological safety of one of his children at risk.
This masthead opposed the order, but one was made for more than three months before finally being lifted on Tuesday following a second legal fight.
As Nguyen left court last week, pursued by the media, he covered his face with a hat and sunglasses and in his hand held a sign reading “sorry” on one side and a biblical reference on the other.
The corresponding Bible verse includes the line: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone.”
The court heard a mother was showering with her three-year-old in one of the pool’s cubicles when she noticed a phone camera lens facing her from a locked stall next to hers. She called for help before lifeguards, and later police intervened.
At the scene, the court heard Nguyen, 49,unlocked his phone and showed it to police who found multiple images and videos in a deleted folder depicting unknown females at the Glen Iris pool and other unknown locations dating back to 2024.
A further analysis of the phone and 20 other electronic devices seized from his home are currently under way.
One officer told the court it appeared Nguyen’s offending was prolific, and he posed a significant risk to the sexual safety of the wider community.
Posters, seen by this masthead and shown to the court, featuring the accused man’s image and name were later put up at the Stonnington council pool warning staff to be on the lookout for him.
He has been charged with five offences including the production of child abuse material.
In June, the doctor had the first interim suppression order granted to allow him and his legal team more time to collect material backing his claim that reporting the case would impact the psychological safety of his child.
Despite the legislation stating that interim orders must be formalised or struck out as a matter of “urgency”, and this masthead arguing the time frame granted was excessive, the gag order was extended.
Following lengthy legal argument last week, including by lawyers from this masthead, magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano refused to impose a more permanent order on Tuesday.
For the argument, Nguyen’s child was represented by high-powered legal counsel, including a barrister and solicitor who had earlier worked for mushroom killer Erin Patterson in her murder trial.
Sophie Stafford argued Nguyen’s name should continue to be suppressed because it would impact the child’s mental health.
She submitted a psychological report from a professional who had never met with Nguyen or his child.
Stafford also submitted that it was likely some of the potential complainants captured on the covert recordings were likely to be “completely unaware” of the allegations.
The prosecution did not oppose the making of a suppression order.
A lawyer for this masthead argued the case was in the public interest because of the nature of Nguyen’s alleged offending and his work.
Nguyen was the second doctor to be granted a suppression order over their identity since May, with another charged with raping a woman in his home given anonymity by the courts after citing mental health concerns.
Nguyen is expected to return to court in September. He remains on bail and is suspended from practising as a doctor.
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