Doctor charged for filming children, assaulting patient in Michigan

Authorities in Oakland County, Michigan, have detained Dr. Oumair Aejaz on charges of filming children and adults in changing rooms at a Rochester swim school. The sheriff’s office announced the arrest on Tuesday, revealing they found thousands of videos and images on his devices, including footage of him assaulting a hospital patient.

Aejaz faces one count of child sexually abusive activity, four counts of capturing images of unclothed individuals, and five counts of using a computer to commit a crime, according to Sheriff Michael Bouchard.

Dr. Oumair Aejaz

Bouchard described Aejaz as a particularly egregious offender, noting the wide range of victims, from a two-year-old child to adult women. The charges primarily originate from an incident at Goldfish Swim School in August 2023, discovered on hard drives taken from Aejaz earlier this month.

Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald stated that the current charges involve four victims: a two-year-old, a four-year-old, and two adult females. The child sexually abusive activity charge is linked to other material found on Aejaz’s devices, not the swim school incident.

The sheriff’s office alleged that Aejaz used hidden cameras to record children and women in various private settings, including hospital rooms and bathrooms, over the past six years. Detectives believe he also recorded sexual encounters with hospital patients who were either asleep or unconscious.

Aejaz’s wife provided the sheriff’s office with concerning information and materials earlier this month. She had filed for divorce in June and sought a restraining order and sole custody of their children. Authorities executed search warrants, seizing six computers, four phones, and 15 external storage devices, one containing 13,000 videos. Aejaz was arrested on August 8 during a search of his home.

Footage also came from inside his home, shared with his wife and two sons. Aejaz was arraigned on August 13 and is held on a $2 million bond in Oakland County Jail. He is an Indian citizen working in the U.S. on a visa, with his next hearing set for August 26.

Authorities anticipate identifying more victims from the thousands of images found. Goldfish Swim School confirmed that the recordings were made using hidden equipment brought by Aejaz, not fixed cameras at the facility. The school assured it continues to prioritise safety.

Aejaz had privileges at Henry Ford Macomb and Ascension Genesys Hospital but was not their employee. Henry Ford Health emphasised they have taken immediate measures to prevent him from practising at their facilities. The sheriff called on any other medical facilities where Aejaz was licensed to notify his office.

The forensic examination of the confiscated materials is expected to take about six months, and the investigation may extend beyond local jurisdictions to other states or countries. Sheriff Bouchard expressed hope that Aejaz would be fully held accountable.