PONTIAC, Mich. – A Metro Detroit physician is being held on a $2 million bond after reportedly recording hundreds of nude images of children and women over several years.
Oumair Aejaz is accused of placing hidden cameras in changing rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, hospital rooms and more in an effort to record people changing.
At a press conference Tuesday, Aug. 20, both the Oakland County sheriff and Prosecutor Karen McDonald said it was one of the worst cases they’ve ever worked on. Sheriff Mike Bouchard said he can’t estimate how many victims there are “because there are so many of them,” and that Aejaz “definitely sexually abused folks.”
The crimes reportedly had been going on for at least six years.
Aejaz reportedly was a contract physician who primarily worked at Ascension Genesys and Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, but he could have handled patients elsewhere. Cameras were also reportedly used to capture images at the Goldfish Swim School in Rochester, but there’s no evidence a camera was affixed there.
The hospitals and the Goldfish center have been cooperating with the investigation.
“We are shocked by these allegations and take them very seriously. This individual has never been an employee of Henry Ford Health but had privileges at several area hospitals, including Henry Ford Macomb Hospital. The safety of our patients and team members is our top priority and we have taken immediate action to prevent him from practicing at our health system.”
Henry Ford Health
The investigation into Aejaz began when his wife tipped off authorities on Aug. 7. A search warrant recovered six computers, four cell phones and 15 hard drives. One hard drive reportedly contained over 13,000 videos Aejaz recorded over the last six years.
There was allegedly a video found of Aejaz sexually assaulting what appears to be an unconscious woman at a hospital. It’s reportedly not the only video in which he does so.
“It’s a complete violation,” said McDonald. “It’s terrifying as a mother and we’re going to do everything we can to hold him accountable.”
Bouchard said it could take six months to get through all the evidence they’ve recovered so far and that they believe there could be more. He added that the Sheriff’s Office may need to create a task force based on how large the investigation becomes.
The known victims so far range from 2 years old to grown adults.
“The victimization is so broad and the perversion so great that we’re still trying to wrap our arms around it,” Bouchard said. “We have some very sick people in the world.”
Aejaz reportedly did his residency at Sinai Grace Hospital and moved to Alabama for a few years before moving back to Michigan. They believe he may have committed crimes in Alabama too. Bouchard said the scope may expand beyond Genesee and Macomb counties.
An email has been established for people who believe they could be victims. It can be reached here.
Aejaz has been charged with one count of child sexually abusive activity, one count of using a computer to create or reproduce child sexually abusive material, two counts of capturing/recording children under the age of 18 while nude, two counts of capturing/recording two women over the age of 18 while nude and four counts of using a computer to commit a crime.
His bond has been set at $2 million.