Aspiring Vietnamese neurosurgeon in court in Melbourne for filming women in restrooms

Bao Phuc Cao, a 23-year-old University of Melbourne student training to be a neurosurgeon, has been sentenced for the third time in less than a year for voyeurism offenses. Despite his history as a repeat offender, a Melbourne court recently allowed him to walk free again without a recorded conviction. This outcome has sparked significant public controversy and raised questions about the legal consequences for non-citizens involved in serious, repetitive criminal behavior.

The most recent case stems from an incident in February 2025 at a Docklands cafe, where a woman using a public restroom discovered an iPhone being held near her cubicle wall to record her. Security found Cao inside the adjoining stall shortly after the victim fled. When confronted by police, Cao claimed he had entered the women's facility because he was struggling with his gender identity. A forensic search of his phone subsequently revealed over 100 illicit videos.

This was not Cao's first encounter with the justice system. He was first sentenced in May 2025 after being caught filming a woman in a shower at a student accommodation center in Melbourne's central business district. During that investigation, authorities found evidence suggesting that up to 150 women may have been photographed or recorded without their consent across his various electronic devices. At that time, he was placed on a community corrections order and required to attend a treatment program for sex offenders.

In the most recent proceedings, the magistrate issued a 12-month good behavior bond but opted once again not to record a conviction. The court cited Cao's early guilty plea, his youth, and the fact that he has no family support in Australia as mitigating factors. Under the principle of "totality," the magistrate argued that the current charge likely would have been bundled with his previous sentencing had it been heard earlier, potentially resulting in the same overall punishment.

The leniency of the sentence has drawn sharp criticism from anti-violence advocates and sparked a heated debate on social media. Critics have questioned the message being sent to victims, particularly given the large number of women potentially affected by his actions. While the University of Melbourne has emphasized its commitment to a safe campus environment, it has cited privacy regulations in refusing to confirm whether Cao remains enrolled in his high-stakes medical program.

Under Australian immigration law, the Minister for Home Affairs has broad discretionary powers to cancel a student visa on "character grounds," even in cases where no formal conviction is recorded. While mandatory deportation typically requires a prison sentence of at least 12 months, a pattern of behavior can still trigger a visa review if the individual is deemed not to be of good character. As public pressure mounts, the case remains a focal point for those calling for stricter accountability for repeat sexual offenders.