A Calgary doctor is facing new sexual assault charges

A Calgary family doctor has been charged with sexual assault — the fourth time since 2017 that he has been accused of such a crime.

Police said on Wednesday that Dr. Ali Ayaz Chatha, 34, faces charges of sexual assault stemming from an alleged incident in January 2023.

Court records show that Chata was accused of sexually assaulting three different women three times, but was never convicted of the crime.

Defense attorney Jennifer Ruttan, who is representing Chata, released a brief statement Wednesday following a Calgary Police Service (CPS) press release.

“I emphasize that he is presumed innocent of this charge and will vigorously defend this charge in court,” Ruttan said.

Guilty of assault

Chatha was first accused of sexually assaulting a woman on July 4, 2017, but that charge was dropped in November 2019.

He was again indicted and charged on March 15, 2019, but the charges were dropped two years later.

Chatha was charged with a third count of sexual assault for an incident that occurred on January 9, 2020.

In that case, Chatha pleaded guilty to common assault in June 2021 and was paroled and placed on probation for one year. The article on sexual violence was removed.

Parole means that a guilty plea has been entered, but no criminal record has been recorded.

In the latest case, Chatha is accused of meeting the woman on January 14, 2023 at the Cowboys Dance Hall near Stampede Park.

The woman was taken to a hotel room

According to the police, the two did not know each other until that night.

Soon after the meeting, police said Chatha and the woman took a taxi to a nearby hotel where he had rented a room.

It was here that investigators believe the woman was sexually assaulted.

The alleged victim left the hotel and reported the incident to the police.

The investigation included interviewing witnesses and collecting and processing DNA evidence, according to CPS.

“These types of crimes can be very personal and sensitive, and I want to thank the victim for coming forward to the police and reporting this incident to us,” said Staff Sgt. Tom Hanson with the Sexual Assault Investigation Unit.

CPSA investigation

In a brief statement Wednesday afternoon, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) said criminal allegations against the doctor trigger an automatic investigation.

“When CPSA becomes aware of criminal allegations against a doctor, we open a complaint and follow-up investigation to gather information and determine next steps,” the CPSA wrote.

“This may include conditions of practice in the physician's authorization or the physician's refusal or suspension from practice based on the seriousness of the allegations and the risk to patient safety.”

Chatha is listed on the CPSA website as an active member with no conditions on his practice permit.

According to its website, “CPSA cannot release information about matters that may be under investigation and cannot speak publicly about a complaint until it has undergone a formal hearing.”

Chata has no disciplinary history, according to the CPSA website.

He is due to have his first court hearing on May 28.