Former AHS North Zone lead medical officer Dr. Albert de Villiers has been charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference for alleged offence which took place between 2018 and 2020 (Photo: CFJC Today Kamloops / Global)

By Shaun Penner

Court

Former AHS North Zone top doctor charged with sex offences released on conditions

Jun 9, 2021 | 2:47 PM

The former lead medical officer for the AHS North Zone, who has been charged with counts of sexual assault and sexual interference out of Grande Prairie, has been released from custody on conditions following a judicial hearing Wednesday.

Dr. Albert de Villiers appeared in court via telephone after he was arrested in Kelowna, B.C. on Tuesday on charges from the Grande Prairie RCMP, stemming from an investigation into allegations reported to them on May 28, 2021, of sexual offences involving a young child that occurred between 2018 and 2020.

The Grande Prairie RCMP Special Investigative Unit initiated the investigation into the allegations, with assistance from the Grande Prairie Caribou Child and Youth Centre.

De Villiers, who has served as the chief medical officer of health for Interior Health (IH) in B.C. since August of 2020, has been replaced in that role by Dr. Sue Pollock, who will begin serving as the Interim CMOH on Monday.

In a teleconference Wednesday afternoon, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix offered little comment on de Villiers’ arrest.

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“The individual is now on leave,” Dix told reporters. “As you know, it’s obviously a police matter and we’re limited about what we can say as it works its way through the judicial system – as it should.”

The 52-year-old de Villiers was based in Grande Prairie prior to his move to IH last year, as he served as the North Zone lead medical officer from 2004 to July of 2020.

The conditions of de Villiers’ release include not being in the presence of anyone under the age of 16 or not being in a location where youth may be present, like parks.

His next court appearance will be in Grande Prairie on June 30.