Penticton massage therapist facing new sexual allegations - Penticton News - Castanet.net

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A Penticton registered massage therapist already under sanction for alleged sexual misconduct is dealing with new allegations in civil court.

A 22-year-old Penticton woman, who Castanet News is not naming due to the allegations of sexual assault, filed a civil lawsuit on New Years Eve naming RMT Leonard Krekic and the College of Massage Therapists of B.C.

The lawsuit claims Krekic “committed assault and battery of a sexual nature” on multiple occasions last year. None of the allegations have been proven in court, and the College’s own version of events offers some contradictions. Krekic has not been criminally charged.

The claim states the woman attended a local massage clinic on March 14, 2019 for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, alleging the sexual misconduct occurred on that date with similar experiences on March 21, 28 and April 4. The allegations were not reported to the College until many months later.

The claim says Krekic moved his hands "under her private clothing and on private areas with his eyes closed. The plaintiff found this embarrassing and painful."

On April 5, 2019 the College ordered Krekic use an approved chaperone while treating women in response to a complaint from another female patient, who alleged “non-therapeutic touching of sensitive areas of the patient’s body, inappropriate contact of Krekic’s body with the patient, and exposure of sensitive areas of the patient’s body.”

Krekic has denied the allegations related to the chaperone sanction, filing a court petition in June in an attempt to quash the order. It was the second time he filed such a petition, with the outcome of a 2014 sexual misconduct complaint to the College involving him still confidential, reported the CBC.

The lawsuit says the woman continued to attend Krekic for treatment until October 2019 with different female chaperones without incident, trusting him because of his “Christian faith.” But on Oct. 2 and 10, the claim alleges the chaperone had her back turned and was focused on an iPad.

“The defendant moved his body in such a way that the plaintiff’s hand would rest on his private area,” the suit says. “Despite the repeated attempts to keep her hand on the massage table, this defendant's movements would keep her hand on the private area.”

The civil claim alleges negligence on the part of the College for failing to properly screen and train the chaperone and take steps to ensure the plaintiff's safety. The claim also names the chaperone as a Jane Doe defendant in the case.

The lawsuit says Krekic had approached the woman in September about moving into a suite “on his income property." She did so on October 27, 2019, but alleges Krekic entered her suite multiple times without permission, leading to her moving out on November 12.

In its response to the lawsuit, the College says the woman filed a complaint with them about Krekic on Nov. 19. The College, however, said it had actually previously been in contact with the plaintiff in August 2019, when Krekic had applied to the College to have the woman approved as a chaperone. The plaintiff had been in support of the idea at the time.

“That phone call took place on or about August 23, 2019 several months after the plaintiff says she was sexually assaulted by Mr. Krekic,” the College’s response to the lawsuit says.

The College said it ultimately denied the plaintiff’s approval as a chaperone, in part, because she mentioned she was considering moving onto a property owned by Krekic.

The lawsuit seeks a variety of damages for the woman, claiming the ordeal has resulted in psychological injuries such as anxiety, depression, shame, insomnia, PTSD and more.

Krekic has not yet filed a response to the allegations in court. The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. says the complaint and disciplinary processes related to the chaperone order for Krekic "remain unresolved."

The B.C. College of Massage Therapists oversees regulation of the industry and sets standards for professional conduct. They have the power to suspend and remove licenses and issue fines.