Former Kelowna mayor Colin Basran has been charged with one count of sexual assault stemming from an alleged incident in May while he was still in office.
Basran is set to make his first appearance related to the charge in Kelowna provincial court on Jan. 24.
A statement from the British Columbia Prosecution Service says special prosecutor Brock Martland was appointed as part of the investigation to avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of justice.
Martland, a senior Vancouver lawyer in private practice, was given a mandate to provide legal advice to the RCMP and conduct the prosecution if charges were approved.
The police investigation was conducted by the Kelowna RCMP and reviewed by the Nelson Police Department, the statement says.
Basran was elected in 2014 but lost to current Mayor Tom Dyas in October’s vote.