Interior Health Chief Medical Officer charged with sexual assault of young child
By Kyra Hoggan
Interior Heath’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Albert de Villiers has been released on conditions after appearing remotely (via telephone) in Kelowna court to face two charges of sexually assaulting a young child.
“Grande Prairie RCMP have laid charges against a 52-year-old man following an investigation into allegations of sexual assaults that occurred between 2018 and 2020,” said an RCMP press release.
“On May 28, 2021, RCMP received a report of sexual offences against a young child that had allegedly taken place between 2018 and 2020. The Grande Prairie RCMP Special Investigative Unit initiated an investigation into the allegations with assistance from the Grande Prairie Caribou Centre.
“On June 8, 2021, the 52-year-old man was arrested in Kelowna, B.C with assistance from Kelowna RCMP.”
De Villiers worked in Grande Prairie as the lead medical health officer for Alberta’s North Zone, before taking the top doctor position in Interior Health in August 2020.
The Interior Health Authority has named an interim Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sue Pollock.
De Villiers is scheduled to appear in court in Grande Prairie on June 30.
