HIV positive man puts three women at risk

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDJun 7 2011

An HIV-positive man, John Choul Chan, 42, of Findon, South Australia, admitted to endangering the lives of three women through unprotected sex.

He is due to stand trial in the Supreme Court today on five charges of endangering life. However, in a plea bargain with prosecutors Chan instead pleaded guilty to three of the charges the remainder were dismissed.

It was heard that the offences occurred in Kensington, Goodwood and Findon span from mid 2004 to early 2007. Chan was diagnosed with HIV in February 2004 and has suffered physical and mental ailments since. He did not pass on the condition to any of his victims. He knew he was HIV-positive and had fathered a child with one of his victims.

Geraldine Davison, for Chan, said she would seek psychiatrist and neuropsychologist reports for sentencing submissions. She said there was a suggestion her client had the early stages of dementia as a result of HIV. “(Chan) presently has a number of physical ailments as a result of the illness and suffers significant mental health issues,” she explained. She further said Chan visits his son, who was the product of one of the offences, regularly in the presence of correctional services officer.

Justice Ann Vanstone remanded Chan on continuing home detention bail until later this month for sentencing submissions.