B.C. Interior Health’s chief medical health officer arrested on sex charges: Alberta RCMP

The chief medical health officer for Interior Health in B.C. has been arrested.

Alberta RCMP said Dr. Albert de Villiers, 52, was arrested in Kelowna on Tuesday on one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference.

Mounties received a report of sexual offences against a child on May 28, 2021, for incidents that allegedly happened 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,” RCMP said Tuesday night.

After a judicial hearing, de Villiers was released from custody on conditions to attend Grande Prairie Provincial Court on June 30, RCMP said Wednesday.

De Villiers was named chief medical health officer for Interior Health in August 2020.

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, de Villiers has been a high-profile figure, fronting the COVID-19 response in the community.

Prior to moving to the Okanagan, de Villiers was the lead medical officer in Alberta’s North zone and was based out of Grande Prairie.

– With files from Jules Knox