The chief medical health officer for Interior Health, Dr. Albert de Villiers, has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference against a child.

Alberta RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Curtis Peters confirmed to NL News that the 52-year-old de Villiers was arrested in Kelowna this afternoon on an arrest warrant issued by the RCMP in Grande Prairie.

De Villiers is in custody awaiting a bail hearing which is expected to take place tomorrow, June 9.

Grande Prairie RCMP say the investigation began on May 28 when they 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,” Sgt. Shawn Graham said

According to its mission statement, the Caribou Centre works with children and young people who are the victims of crime or abuse.

In a statement to NL News, Interior Health said it would not be able to comment on the matter today.

“This is a serious matter that we cannot comment on this evening. We will be appointing a temporary interim (chief medical health officer) tomorrow to function for the week. Dr. Sue Pollock will be in the position starting next week,” the statement said.

“All further questions should be directed to the RCMP.”

De Villiers moved to Kelowna in August 2020 to take on the job as top doctor for Interior Health. The health authority covers more than 215,000 square kilometres spread out across the entire southern Interior and the Kootenays, including cities like Kamloops and Kelowna.

Before starting in his role with IH, de Villiers was the lead medical health officer for Alberta Health Services’ North Zone, based out of Grande Prairie, a position he was in for 16 years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

– with files from Victor Kaisar