A three-day long sexual assault trial for the former Chief Medical Health Officer for the Interior Health Authority got underway in Grande Prairie, Alberta this week.
Dr. Albert de Villiers, who was in the role from Aug. 2020 until his arrest in Kelowna in June 2021, has pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexually assaulting a child and one charge of invitation to sexual touching, according to CBC Edmonton.
At the time of his arrest, police said the alleged incidents took place between June 15, 2018, and July 31, 2020, near Grande Prairie.
The public broadcaster reports that an 11-year-old Alberta boy told the judge only trial in Court of King’s Bench yesterday that he was sexually assaulted by de Villiers who also showed him pornographic videos.
A 2021 recording of the boy’s interview with police was played in court. While his identity is covered by a publication ban, court heard that de Villiers was a close family friend, and that the boy would sometimes sleep over at the de Villiers home.
During one of those sleepovers, CBC also reports that de Villiers allegedly told the boy “where babies come from” and then showed him pornographic videos. The child said de Villiers then touched him sexually, adding the assaults happened more than once.
The boy’s father also testified in court Tuesday noting that his son and de Villiers grew especially close, and that the boy would often refer to the doctor as an “uncle” and on one occasion as his “grandfather.”
He told the court that once his son shared the allegations with his wife on May 28, 2021, they went to the RCMP. Less than two weeks later – on June 8, 2021 – Interior Health put de Villiers on paid leave, the same day he was arrested and charged.
The health authority says de Villiers was on general paid leave from Jun 9, 2021 to Oct. 3, 2021, before being reassigned to administrative duties. Interior Health’s most recent financial statements also show he was paid $361,656 during the 2021-22 fiscal year.
While Interior Health confirmed to NL News in August last year that de Villiers was employed by the health authority, a spokesperson said they could not clarify his current employment status or whether he was paid.
“We are not able to provide further information due to privacy obligations and the fact this matter is before the courts,” the statement said.
In August last year, de Villiers was also charged with invitation to sexual touching, voyeurism, and making sexually explicit material available to a child. RCMP say these incidents – which are not yet at trial – allegedly took place between Jan. 2017 and Dec. 2019.
