In recent years, Dr. David Edward-Ooi Poon, a physician, had been offering psychotherapy services in Ontario and working in public health in northern Saskatchewan. He gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a series of events unfolded last summer after Google flagged 11 images of suspected child sexual abuse material uploaded to a Google Drive account under Poon’s name. This led to 43 sex-crime charges against him, as detailed in a police court document.
While many tips related to child sexual abuse material do not result in significant police action due to various reasons, this case prompted a thorough investigation. Poon was initially charged with two counts of accessing and possessing child sexual abuse material, with additional charges including making and possessing child pornography, sexual assault, voyeurism, and facilitating sexual assault. The investigation by Toronto police is ongoing.
Although the allegations and charges against Poon have not been proven in court, he is currently in custody in Toronto. The police search-warrant application outlined the discovery of explicit images on Poon’s electronic devices, including photos of naked prepubescent girls. Further investigation led to the seizure of multiple electronic devices and the uncovering of concerning material allegedly linked to Poon.
The volume of reports on child sexual abuse material received by organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is staggering, with only a fraction being thoroughly investigated by law enforcement due to resource constraints. However, cases involving individuals in positions of authority, like Poon, are given high priority by authorities.
Despite the ongoing investigation and pending legal proceedings, Poon’s medical licenses in Ontario and Saskatchewan have been suspended. His affiliations with the University of Toronto and the University of Saskatchewan have also been terminated. It is important to note that David Edward-Ooi Poon should not be mistaken for his father, who faced legal issues in the past related to sexual offenses.