An Australian man facing child pornography charges after an incident involving a young boy in West Edmonton Mall is a practising child psychiatrist.
Aaron Szen Voon, 41, is charged with making and possessing child pornography as well as voyeurism.
Voon was arrested on Sunday, May 22, after a father allegedly caught Voon videotaping his son as the boy was using the urinal in Scotiabank Theatre.
Video of the confrontation between Voon and the father has been viewed more than 130,000 times on a Facebook Page called The Edmonton Crime Report.
According to the website AusCompanies, which records business registrations, Voon owns the Successful Development and Therapy Centre in Perth, Western Australia.
On Monday afternoon, the centre’s phone rang through to voicemail, which stated: “Thank you for calling the Successful Development and Therapy Centre. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the clinic will be closed indefinitely… From the staff here, we deeply apologize and wish you and your family all the very best.”
Google lists the business as permanently closed.
Global News was contacted by a parent who says his two children were treated by Voon.
The father said he received an email from Voon’s office stating: “A most terrible thing has happened with me in the past week whilst overseas which I will need to manage urgently. 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.”
In an email, the parent said Voon had an impressive reputation as a child psychiatrist and that “we were considered very fortunate when he agreed to see our children. I think that’s what’s shocked us and I know other families as well.”
Edmonton police said the Integrated Child Exploitation team continues to investigate the file and officers are in touch with Australian authorities.
Watch below: It’s an investigation that’s quickly garnered international attention. An alleged incident in a West Edmonton Mall bathroom is now being investigated by more than just Edmonton police. Shallima Maharaj reports.
A spokesperson with Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) said the organization was working on the case together with the EPS and the Internet Child Exploitation unit (ICE) and had also been in touch with authorities in Australia.
“One of our biggest goals – if not primary – is the intervention and prevention of more victims and so we’re certainly looking at the case of could there potentially be other victims in other jurisdictions,” ALERT’s Mike Tucker said.
He added that ICE had not investigated Voon previously.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) was notified of the charges laid against a fellow by Edmonton police. It issued a statement Tuesday:
“The RANZCP is deeply concerned by the allegations made and are currently in communication with the appropriate authorities in Australia and Canada to ensure we obtain all the relevant information.
“Our main priority is to work closely with our membership to provide care and support to patients and their families who are affected by the immediate closure of the practice and to ensure our local members are well supported.”
The college asked that anyone requiring assistance contact Ms Callie Kalimnious, manager of legal services or Ms Claire Bellett, executive assistant to the CEO at the RANZCP.
Voon made another appearance in court Tuesday – where a judge was tasked with deciding whether he will remain in custody or not. She requested more time to look over his file and will come back with a decision Thursday morning.
-With files from Shallima Maharaj.
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