Warning: This story contains details of sexual misconduct and may be distressing to some readers.
A B.C. massage therapist has been banned from working in his field until 2048 and must pay almost $106,000 in costs and fines, the profession's regulatory body has ruled.
The College of Massage Therapists of BC (CMTBC) found that Leonard Krekic engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with six female patients in Surrey and Penticton.
“This is one of the most serious cases to ever come before the discipline committee due to the nature and gravity of multiple instances of misconduct involving many different patients extending over a period of years,” the college said in its Dec. 21 decision.
The college said such misconduct involves a breach of trust and abuse of patients.
“The duration and frequency of Mr. Krekic’s conduct was serious, and its impact on the complainants was profound,” the college said.
The decision outlines 10 allegations. They range from touching patients for a non-therapeutic or sexual purpose without consent to inappropriate statements, including initiating faith-based conversations.
“The panel also found that from August 2019 through November 21, 2019, Mr. Krekic entered into a close personal relationship with Patient 6 and engaged in inappropriate and unprofessional communications with Patient 6,” the decision said.
The college also said Krekic violated its order by failing to inform it immediately of any new locations where he was providing massage therapy services. And, it said, he failed to have a chaperone present while treating women in July and August 2019.
The college further said Krekic failed to provide treatment records to the college and that he practiced massage therapy without liability insurance between Nov. 1 and 16, 2019.
The decision stressed sexual touching of patients will not be tolerated and must be denounced.
“Where this occurs, registrants of CMTBC will be met with the most serious penalties available,” the college stated.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
- In an emergency, call 9-1-1
- In a crisis, call 1-800-563-0808
- To report a person under 19 who needs protection to the Ministry of Children and Family Development, call 310-1234 (no area code required)
You can find a full list of resources on the B.C. government’s website.
