Leonard (Len) Krekic
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Len Krekic
December 24, 2022 - 6:00 AM
CONTENT ADVISORY
A former Penticton massage therapist is on the hook for more than $100,000 and has been banned from practicing for 25 years after he was found to have committed sexual misconduct on multiple women.
The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. fined the former massage therapist Leonard Krekic $10,000 and ordered him to pay costs of $96,000.
According to a Dec. 21 College of Massage Therapist decision, Krekic will not be allowed to reapply for his licence for 25 years.
Krekic practiced in Penticton and in Surrey when the sexual misconduct, which dates back to 2009, took place.
In 2012, Krekic touched the vagina of a patient and stuck his finger into her anus.
Two years later he made a patient straddle him while he pushed his groin into them.
On other occasions, Krekic touched patients "for a sexual purpose."
He once told a patient that "God works through him to heal people" before then touching their vagina.
"This is one of the most serious cases to ever come before the (regulator) due to the nature and gravity of multiple instances of misconduct involving many different patients extending over a period of years," the decision said.
"Sexual misconduct is a particularly serious form of misconduct because it 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 regulator also said he entering into a close personal relationship with a much younger patient for his personal and financial gain.
Krekic was found to have committed the acts of sexual misconduct following a three-week hearing in August.
The regulator found that he was often "inconsistent and vague" during the hearing or "vague and evasive."
In 2019, following the allegations against him, Krekic was ordered to only treat female patients if a chaperone was present in the room.
He then took legal action against the College saying it was impossible for him to make a living with the restriction.
In 2020, the College suspended his licence.
While Krekic's conduct seems criminal in nature it does not appear that he has been criminally charged.
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