By Alison McClymont, Rebecca Armitage, and Stephanie March.
An Australian man has been charged in Canada with child pornography offences after he was allegedly caught filming a boy in a public bathroom.
Aaron Voon, who is believed to work as a child psychiatrist at the Successful Development and Therapy Centre in Perth, has been charged with possession of child pornography, making child pornography and voyeurism.
The 41-year-old was arrested outside a movie theatre in Edmonton, Alberta, on May 22, after police received a report of the alleged incident.
They seized a mobile device from Voon.
“These investigations are complex and we have assigned a number of resources to determine if this is in fact an isolated incident,” Staff Sergeant Stephen Camp of Canada’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit said.
Canadian police said they were in touch with Australian authorities as part of the investigation.
Voon is due to face court in Edmonton tomorrow.
Voon tells patients’ parents ‘a most terrible thing has happened’.
Voon sent an email addressed to his colleagues, patients and family, saying he has closed his practice indefinitely.
“A most terrible thing has happened with me in the past week whilst overseas which I need to manage urgently,” he wrote.
“Public information may become available as details unfold. It means that I will have to cease practice immediately indefinitely.
“For patients and family I am so sorry for leaving you so suddenly. I can honestly state that these issues have been TOTALLY separate from work and I have always provided you and your children with the best possible, safe and appropriate care.”
One parent whose children have been treated by Voon, told the ABC that the email immediately raised alarm bells.
“I’ve never heard of any specialist simply closing up and leaving all their patients in the lurch, especially when some of the prescription medication required for the patients can only be prescribed by a psychiatrist,” he said.
“So not only do we have to try and figure out whether our children have been in contact [or] exposed to someone charged with child pornography, but we also find another psychiatrist to take our children so that we can get the treatment and medication required.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed they are providing consular assistance to an Australian man who has been detained in Canada, but declined to provide any other details.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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Top Comments
Whether it's a child psychologist, a teacher/daycare worker, a priest, a film/photography director - wherever an adult has access to children, you will find this disgusting element. They are drawn to careers where kids will be in their paths.
Yes, there can be abuse with immediate family, which we cant really do anything about......but something needs to be done with stopping situations where children are alone with non-family members (males) that hold power over them. These stories keep appearing and what do we do? Offer a weak 'blue card' that is easily obtained and that's meant to ensure the safety of our kids. Aus legal system - step it up!
A child psychologist.
These pedophiles really have sophisticated strategies to blend in, manipulate and access victims and their families, don't they?