Claims extracted
21
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
5%
1 of 21 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
67/100
ABC News (AU)'s corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Crime & Law
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
In short:
Former Perth child psychiatrist Benjamin Wen has been warned he will be going to prison by a WA District Court judge.
asserted
he → warn → judge
Wen, 52, was found guilty of sexually abusing his young patients during what he called "puberty checks", which were not necessary for a psychiatrist to perform.
What's next?
Wen's bail has been continued until Wednesday, when he will be sentenced.
asserted
he → find → Wednesday
A WA judge has warned a former Perth child psychiatrist who sexually abused his young patients and later filmed boys in public toilets he will be going to prison.
asserted
he → warn → prison
WARNING: This story contains details that may distress some readers.
uncertain
that → contain → readers
Benjamin Wen, 52, touched the boys’ genitals on the pretext of conducting “puberty checks” he said were routine, but the WA District Court heard it was not necessary for a psychiatrist to perform such checks.
asserted
psychiatrist → touch → checks
Wen was found guilty in April of multiple charges, including indecent dealing with a child under 13, and persistent sexual conduct with a child under 16, with the offences occurring more than 10 years ago.
In 2017 he was given a suspended sentence for making videos of boys urinating in public toilets.
asserted
boys → find → toilets
Wen, who was previously known as Aaron Voon, had made the videos in Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Perth.
asserted
who → know → Canada
Sexual assault support lines:
- 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
- Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491
- Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
- Victims of Crime Helpline: 1800 819 817
- Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578
Parents of boys who had been Voon's patients contacted WA police following the publicity surrounding that case.
asserted
who → contact → case
During sentencing submissions on Monday, the court heard Wen had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, neuralgia, ASD, PTSD and OCD and his time in prison would be harder than it would be for a "normal prisoner".
asserted
it → hear → prisoner
'Abuse of trust'
But prosecutor Tracy Tan said Wen used the trust placed in him to "repeatedly" offend against children in his care.
asserted
Wen → say → care
Ms Tan said his "abuse of trust" had impacted on his victims, who were neurodivergent, and their families.
asserted
who → say → victims
She said Wen did not appear to accept the offending, as he still seemed to maintain his actions were "medically warranted".
asserted
actions → say → offending
This showed he was not remorseful, Ms Tan told the court.
asserted
Tan → show → court
Enabling offending
The prosecutor targeted a defence submission suggesting the judge should consider the good Wen had done in treating more than 500 patients, aside from the victims.
asserted
Wen → enable → victims
Ms Tan told the court "it was precisely that good standing" that enabled the offending, and "little mitigation" turned on that.
asserted
mitigation → tell → that
She said the matters to do with Wen's health were the only ones that should be considered in mitigation.
asserted
that → say → mitigation
Wen's lawyer Patti Chong said Wen was likely to experience "disproportionately more suffering" and his mobility was "vastly impaired".
asserted
mobility → say → suffering
She told the court his health issues warranted a significant sentence reduction and called on the judge not to impose a "crushing sentence".
asserted
issues → tell → sentence
Judge Linda Petrusa said her sentencing remarks were likely to take some time, and the matter was adjourned until Wednesday.
asserted
matter → say → Wednesday
But she warned Wen a term of immediate imprisonment would be imposed.
asserted
term → warn → imprisonment
His bail was continued until Wednesday.
asserted
bail → continue → Wednesday
The Aporia