A Nanaimo RCMP officer has been charged with sexual assault.
Const. Ben Caram is accused of inappropriately touching another person while attending a social gathering.
According to an RCMP press release, Caram was off-duty at a social gathering when he allegedly touched someone who also attended the event on Nov. 28 of last year.
The incident was brought to the attention of Supt. Mark Fisher, Nanaimo detachment commander Nov. 30. The complaint triggered criminal and code of conduct investigations, according to the press release issued Friday.
Caram has been charged with one count of sexual assault and has been suspended from duty with pay. He is scheduled to appear in Nanaimo provincial court June 21.
The internal code of conduct investigation is ongoing.
“There will be no further comment because it’s before the courts,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
