(KATHY MICHAELS / iNFOnews.ca)

A Penticton massage therapist who was already ordered to have a chaperone present for all appointments has now had his licence suspended after more allegations of sexual misconduct were levied.

The College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia suspended Leonard Krekic's license as a Registered Massage Therapist in B.C., according to  Feb. 20 notice on its website.

The suspension replaces a previous order that required Krekic to have a chaperone present for all consultations, assessments, examinations or treatment of female patients, as well as sending in regular reports on the use of chaperones.

The reason for the new restrictions follow a new round of allegations to the college from a woman who said, during appointments starting in March and sporadically carrying on through October 2019, Krekic engaged in sexual misconduct multiple times.

Some allegations related to the period prior to the previous order of the Inquiry Committee being imposed, others are from after the use of a chaperone was mandated. She alleges the chaperone was in the treatment room but not paying attention.

The woman also alleges that Krekic communicated with her outside of treatment, including by phone and text message and that she moved into a rental suite that Krekic owns. Once she moved in, she claims Krekic began entering her suite without notice and texting her excessively and attempted to enter into a romantic or sexual relationship with her.

"In total, CMTBC’s Inquiry Committee has nine investigation files open pertaining to the registrant, which include the complaints (from the aforementioned woman) six complaints of sexual misconduct by other female patients, and two files opened on the Inquiry Committee’s own motion," according to the college.

Other issues Krekic is dealing with include failing to maintain liability insurance after Nov. 1, 2019, in contravention of the college's bylaws and breaching the reporting requirements of the April 5, 2019 order of the Inquiry Committee by failing to provide certain records to the college upon request.

The allegations, although serious, are yet unproven and the suspension was ordered to protect the public during the investigation.

Krekic in a civil suit denied all previous allegations against him, and criminal charges have yet to be filed.

In fact, Krekic recently filed a lawsuit asking that the use of a chaperone be lifted, noting it was limiting his ability to do his work.

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