The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service announced on Thursday, April 10, that Master Warrant Officer Douglas Pettie, who is a vehicle technician at the Canadian Forces Base Shilo, was charged with sexual and physical assault.

Mr Pettie, who is based in Manitoba, was charged with two counts of assault causing physical harm and one count of sexual harm. According to Major Yves Desbiens, Mr Pettie committed multiple offences during February 2011 to May 2013. An investigation related to the allegations held against him began in May 2013. Eventually, he was charged on Wednesday, April 9.

In addition to the abovementioned charges, the 49-year-old soldier is also facing four counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline which falls under the National Defence Act, CBC News reported. Mr Desbiens said that the officer had served the Canadian military for 26 years. During his long period of service, he was stationed in countries like Afghanistan, Kosovo and Syria.

On the other hand, it has not been decided if the charges against Mr Pettie would cause a court martial against him. A military prosecutor is going to decide how severely he will be charged. Additionally, there will be an administrative review on whether the officer should be allowed to serve the army while he faces the charges. Such allegations are taken quite seriously when held against military officials, Mr Desbiens said.

Mr Desbiens also said that the Canadian military held its members to a "very high standard of conduct and performance, whether it is in Canada or abroad, on or off duty". CTV News quoted Lieutenant Colonel Brian Frei saying that "the Canadian Armed Forces do not tolerate sexual misconduct in the workplace." Mr Frei is a commanding officer with the Canadian Forces National Investigation Services. He said that such cases "erode the standards of military discipline and victimize everyone involved".

The victim is reported to be a serving member of the Forces. The gender identity of the victim, however, was not disclosed.