WARNING: This story contains details that may disturb some readers. A former Penticton and Lower Mainland massage therapist is guilty of professional misconduct in connection with six patients over a decade, according to the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia. Leonard Krekic spent 12 total days in seven months at a disciplinary hearing before the college in 2021. Six women he treated between 2009 and 2019 include that Krekic led them to spread their legs and pressed his groin against theirs on the massage table, touched/massaged their genitals and inserted his finger into one woman’s anus ” for a non-therapeutic and/or sexual purpose’, among a litany of other similar, disturbing actions. A summary of the college’s decision — which does not yet contain a recommended sentence — was released in August, accepting much of the testimony and evidence of Krekic’s accusers and finding Krekic to practice without liability insurance for two weeks in 2019. Krekich practiced in Penticton, Surrey and White Rock during that time period, and his license was suspended in early 2020 after he failed to comply with an order to have an attendant in the room while treating female patients. He was already under investigation for sexual harassment at the time. Krekic has the right to appeal the decision within 30 days, failing which penalties and costs will be assessed. “The committee accepted the evidence of each of the complainants and found that the college had proven each of the allegations made in the complaint to the required standards,” the college wrote in its decision, adding that Krekich repeatedly violated the ethics codes and boundaries and the standards. . The full decision is publicly available here.
