The provincial government says Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab (pictured), is the official with the Ministry of Health who was among two people whose life and safety was threatened through an email from a Regina man.

Dr. Shahab consented to the release of his name, but the elected official mentioned in the email allegedly sent by 38-year-old Tobechi Okwuonu has not yet been identified.

In a statement, Premier Scott Moe said, “No one in our province should be subjected to threats, but particularly not Dr. Shahab who has worked tirelessly to serve the people of our province. Thank you to the Regina Police Service for their actions in response to this threat, and thank you to Dr. Shahab for his continued efforts to serve Saskatchewan people.”

Regina Police officers were told about the email on October 4, received by several people, with no apparent connection to each other. Investigators describe the communication as containing non-specific threats to the lives and safety of government officials and law enforcement, but it also mentioned two people by name. It was sent from a fake account. Okwuonu is facing two charges of uttering threats after a search warrant was conducted on a home in south Regina last Friday. He has been released on strict conditions and appears in court on December 1.