Former naval officer had been twice disciplined by college body

A former high-ranking CFB Esquimalt officer charged with sexual assault was disciplined by a regulatory body four years ago because of sexual assault allegations, but police were not told.

Kit Wong, a 71-year-old Esquimalt man, is charged with four counts of sexual assault in connection with offences that allegedly occurred in 2005 and 2006 in his homebased business, where he practised acupuncture, massage therapy and traditional Chinese medicine.

Wong was disciplined in 2011 and 2014 by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of B.C. after he was accused of touching patients in a sexual manner. However, the college did not notify Victoria police of those allegations.

After the college’s investigation in 2014, Wong’s registration was cancelled and he was barred from applying for registration for two years. He was ordered to pay $21,881 in fines and costs. The college also investigated sexual-touching allegations in 2011 and, as a result of “serious safety concerns,” Wong was ordered to use a chaperone during visits with female patients.

According to the 2011 decision, “the inquiry committee determined that there was a prima facie case of risk to female patients warranting immediate precautionary action because of the sexual nature of the alleged conduct and the similarity of the alleged conduct with respect to each of the female patients.”

The college said in a statement that it cannot comment because the matter is before the courts.

The college did say: “As part of the complaint process, the College ensures that a complainant is aware of the option to file a complaint with the police. The choice of whether or not to file a complaint is up to the complainant.”

Wong is a retired navy lieutenant commander with the Canadian Armed Forces, based at CFB Esquimalt. As a result of his navy career, many of his clients were military members, said Victoria police Det. Graeme LeBlanc.

Investigators with the police department’s special victims unit say there could be more victims, potentially across the country, and are asking anyone with information on Wong to contact them.

Wong has been released on bail with strict conditions, including not to practise traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture or massage therapy or any service that involves touching any female person apart from members of his immediate family.

His bail conditions prevent him from contacting the four alleged victims or being within 100 metres of a home, school or workplace linked to them.

Wong served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1980 to 2003, starting as a combat systems engineer and rising to the rank of lieutenant commander, the Canadian Armed Forces said in a statement. The Forces said privacy rules prevent the disclosure of information relating to Wong’s release from the navy.

The Forces said it is aware of the charges laid against Wong and referred questions to the Victoria Police Department.

“The safety and well-being of our CAF members is paramount,” the Forces said. “We encourage anyone with information related to the case to speak with the Victoria Police Department. Should any member of the CAF require support, they are encouraged to contact their chain of command, local authorities and/or any of the multiple online resources and discrete support services made available by the CAF.”

Wong previously ran the Shang Wu Kung Fu and Tai Chi Club on Fisgard Street in Chinatown. He is a former president of the Consolidated Chinese Benevolent Association of Victoria. After his retirement from the navy, he continued to teach CFB Esquimalt employees kung fu and tai chi in a warehouse in Work Point’s transportation compound.

Wong’s next court date is set for Sept. 10.