Former Interior Health top doctor to be sentenced in June

The former chief medical officer for Interior Health who was convicted of sex-related offences involving an underage child will be sentenced in June in Alberta.

Two days have been set aside for the sentencing of Dr. Albert de Villiers. Grande Prairie Court of King’s Bench will hear submissions on June 12 with a decision on the sentence set for June 13.

De Villiers was convicted on charges of sexual assault and sexual interference on Feb. 7 in Grande Prairie. A legal principle that says an accused cannot be convicted of both offences means the sexual interference charge has been stayed.

De Villiers was arrested on June 8, 2021, with assistance from Kelowna RCMP, and charged in connection with incidents that happened between 2018 and 2020 in Alberta. De Villiers took over as chief medical officer of Interior Health in August 2020 after previously working out of Grande Prairie as the lead medical health officer with Alberta’s north zone.

Subsequent to charges being announced in June of 2021, Interior Health placed de Villiers on paid leave for about four months. He returned to work in October of that year and was reassigned to administrative duties.

Shortly after he was convicted on Feb. 7, Interior Health confirmed de Villiers was no longer employed with the health authority.

with files from Everything GP staff