Doctor faces child porn charge

A former doctor at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast has been charged in connection with child pornography.

Biju Mohan, 37, from India, was accused of making an indecent photograph of a child last February and of possessing a similar photograph in May at a hearing at Laganside Court, Belfast, on Friday.

The charges followed a police raid on his home at Glebe Road West, Newtownabbey, when a computer and other equipment were seized.

The raid was linked to a Metropolitan police investigation code-named Operation Pilsey.

Dr Mohan, a father of two, resigned his post at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

He was not in court for the hearing.

However, his solicitor said this was due to a misunderstanding over dates as the doctor believed the case was due to be called next Monday.

With the agreement of the prosecution, Dr Mohan was remanded on bail in his absence to appear in court on Monday 13 September.

Meanwhile, a statement released on behalf of the Royal Victoria Hospital said: "We wish to make it very clear the charges are not linked to our hospitals, our equipment or any of our patients."