A former Paralympian turned physiotherapist accused of deliberately recording a female Geelong Grammar student during a treatment says his phone’s video accidentally activated as she lay topless on his treatment table.
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula, who appeared in a white button-up shirt and tie alongside his wife at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, took to the witness box on to defend his case.
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula has been accused of covertly filming a female student he was treating at Geelong Grammar School.Credit:Getty Images
The court heard the patient, a senior school student, attended an appointment with Rahles-Rahbula to receive treatment for her neck and back in treatment rooms at Geelong Grammar in 2021.
Police allege he placed his phone on its side on a silver benchtop near the treatment table to enable the device to capture footage of the minor while she lay partly undressed on the treatment table.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Kerrie Moroney said Rahles-Rahbula then allegedly used his wallet to prop his iPhone up against a tissue box and begin recording without the child’s consent.
“I put it to you, Mr Rahles-Rahbula, that you saw an opportunity,” Moroney said. “You activated the video on your phone, placed it in an extremely strategic position on the bench, and videoed [the patient] knowing that she would have to put her clothing on after being half naked on the treatment table.”
Rahles-Rahbula, who is fighting the charges, said he placed the phone in that spot only because it received the best reception. He said that at no point during the session did he realise his phone was recording, and when he later became aware, he immediately deleted the video without viewing it.
He said he had previously taken accidental “pocket photos” or made “pocket dials” in the past, and was prone to leaving his phone unlocked.
“I tend to read recipes on my phone, and so therefore I don’t want the screen going into lock mode,” he said.
Rahles-Rahbula said deliberately videoing a patient would be highly unethical.
“It would be an end to my physiotherapy career – or any sort of medical practice – and the consequences would be dramatic,” he said. “It would be something that would mark my reputation for the rest of my life, so it would be something that I wouldn’t consider [doing].”
Police arrested Rahles-Rahbula last year and later charged him with knowingly using an optical surveillance device in an attempt to commit an indictable offence.
Police allege the 39-year-old, who was a flag-bearer for the Australian team at two winter Paralympics, began recording the session in an attempt to covertly film a female student during a consultation at the school.
Rahles-Rahbula is a former student of the school. He competed in four winter Paralympic Games, winning two bronze medals at the Vancouver Games in 2010 in the men’s slalom standing event and the men’s super combined standing event.
The hearing will continue before magistrate Simon Guthrie on Friday.
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