A government defence agency employee has been accused of filming people in changerooms in what the court heard was a "significant invasion of privacy".
Teck Ng granted bail
Teck Ng, 45, was granted bail when he faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 16. The Singapore national is yet to enter a plea to one charge of capturing indecent visual data in an invasion of privacy. The court heard he had no criminal history and worked in a government defence agency.
In early June, two women attended a police station to report a person allegedly using a mobile phone to record them in changerooms at a Bonds clothing store in Woden. After an investigation which included reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to witnesses, officers searched Ng's home in Curtin on Tuesday. He was arrested and his mobile phone and laptop were seized.
Prosecution raises concerns
In court, a prosecutor opposed Ng's bid for conditional freedom on the likelihood of him endangering the safety and welfare of the community, failing to appear in court, and interfering with evidence. The prosecutor said the alleged crime was a "significant invasion of privacy" in a retail store that "specialises in the sale of undergarments". "[The alleged acts would have been] alarming and ultimately undermines the community's expectations of acceptable behaviour," the lawyer said.
The prosecutor argued Ng was on a visa and a flight risk who did not have ties to the ACT. She said he could potentially access his electronic devices remotely to delete evidence.
Bail conditions set
Magistrate Jane Campbell granted Ng bail without hearing from the defence lawyer. However, Legal Aid duty lawyer Donovan Kelso successfully argued Ng should be allowed to travel within Australia for work as part of his bail conditions. Ng was required to surrender his passport and not leave the ACT unless for work purposes. He is set to return to court next month.
