Interior Health’s top doctor charged with sexual assault, sexual interference
Posted Jun 8, 2021 7:22 pm.
Last Updated Jun 9, 2021 12:48 am.
KELOWNA (NEWS 1130) — The top doctor for B.C.’s Interior Health Authority was arrested in Kelowna Tuesday and has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference, and police say the alleged victim in the case is “a young child.”
The Alberta RCMP have confirmed that the charges against Dr. Albert de Villiers come out of Grande Prairie. Before coming to British Columbia, de Villiers worked in Grande Prairie as the lead medical health officer for Alberta’s north zone.
In a statement, Mounties say they launched an investigation into de Villiers on May 28, 2021.
According to Grande Prairie RCMP – they've laid charges following an investigation from 2018-2020. On May 28th, RCMP received a report of sexual offences against a young child. De Villiers was arrested today – he remains in custody awaiting a judicial hearing @NEWS1130 https://t.co/kxpgTKIw1w
— Tarnjit Kaur Parmar (@Tarnjitkparmar) June 9, 2021
The RCMP say no further information will be release because “the matter is now before the courts.”
De Villiers has been the chief medical health officer for the vast Interior Health region since August of 2020.
NEWS 1130 contacted the health authority for comment, and received a brief statement in response.
“This is a serious matter that we cannot comment on this evening. We will be appointing a temporary interim CMHO tomorrow (Wednesday) to function for the week, and Dr. Sue Pollock will be in the position starting next week. All further questions should be directed to the RCMP,” it read.
