File Photo (Image Credit: Global BC)

By James Peters

Albert de Villiers

Former Interior Health top doctor released on parole partway through sex crime sentence

May 29, 2025 | 11:19 AM

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB. — The disgraced former top doctor for Interior Health is now out on full parole.

Albert de Villiers was found guilty of sexual assault in February, 2023 for offences that took place against a young boy in Grande Prairie, Alberta between 2018 and 2020. Court heard that de Villiers groomed the boy by sending him pornographic videos and sexually assaulted him on several occasions.

In June of 2023, de Villiers was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.

De Villiers was granted day parole on October 16, 2024, 20 months after his conviction.

In a decision dated April 6 of this year, the Parole Board of Canada granted de Villiers full parole, effective April 15, the day his day parole expired.

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In making its decision, the parole board said it considered de Villiers “a low risk for sexual recidivism.” It noted the former chief medical health officer had sought psychological and spiritual counselling in prison, and has the support of his family.

The board imposed a series of conditions on de Villiers, including that he has no contact with the victim or his family, has no access to pornography and no contact with any male children under the age of 16 unless they are in the company of an adult who is aware of de Villiers’ criminal history.

De Villiers gave up his medical license earlier this month.