The former CEO of Joondalup Health Campus has been charged with possessing child abuse material and transmitting child pornography.

Kempton Richard Cowan, 55, was charged on March 24 after a raid on his Mosman Park home allegedly uncovered the material.

WA Business News political editor Gary Adshead revealed to Liam Bartlett on the 6PR Morning program the charges against Dr Cowan, who was chief executive at the northern suburbs hospital from 2002-2020, had shocked health industry leaders.

“I would suggest to you everyone, everyone in the health system of Western Australia knows the name Kempton Cowan through his longevity at Joondalup Health Campus and other areas of the system that he has been involved in,” Adshead told Bartlett on Friday morning.

He will front Perth Magistrates Court today on Commonwealth charges after a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police and WA Police.

Press PLAY below to hear more details from Gary Adshead on the breaking news.