Benjamin Wen: Ex-child psychiatrist fights accusations of child sex crimes after caught red-handed in Canada

A former Perth child psychiatrist convicted of filming boys urinating in public toilets in WA and overseas is fighting further accusations of sex crimes against other youths. Benjamin Wen is facing a seven-week trial in the District Court of WA, charged with 18 offences allegedly committed against 15 boys in Perth’s south between 2012 and 2016 when his name was Aaron Voon. Details of the claims cannot be revealed at this stage due to a suppression order. But the 51-year-old’s prior conviction in 2017 for eight child exploitation material offences — after he was caught red-handed on a trip to Canada — was disclosed to the jury. Prosecutor Tracy Tan said the State believed it was relevant evidence, showing Mr Wen had a tendency to be sexually interested in boys. Ms Tan revealed the accused had tried to surreptitiously video a 10-year-old boy while he used public toilets at an Edmonton cinema but wound up being confronted by the child’s father. Canadian authorities discovered three more clips of boys aged 7-12 urinating in public toilets and Mr Wen was allowed to return to WA, where police found 409 CEM images and 12 videos in his possession. Three of the victims were captured at Garden City shopping centre in Booragoon while a fourth was in New Zealand, Ms Tan said. She said the 15 complainants in Mr Wen’s current court case came forward after his conviction was reported in the news. While one of them had immediately complained to his parents about an alleged offence, another who was the first to complain to WA Police claimed he hadn’t spoken up sooner because Mr Wen had “threatened him”, Ms Tan said. Most of the complainants are expected to be among 35 prosecution witness, while Mr Wen’s defence team led by Anthony Elliott have flagged calling multiple expert witnesses. Mr Wen wore a medical facemask and sat in a wheelchair, with the extra large jury told he suffered disorders that meant he could not sit in a regular chair for long periods. At the time of his previous conviction, he was fully mobile, Ms Tan said.