FORMER South West Hospital CEO Graem Kelly has opened up for the first time about his devastation at facing criminal charges.

In an interview with the Western Star, Mr Kelly spoke of the surprise he felt when Roma police officers arrived at his office with a search warrant in late 2013.

"On the day the police arrived I had just returned from morning tea," Mr Kelly said.

"There was a warrant to search my office.

"I was not aware of any charges."

He said the resulting court proceedings, which stretched out over eight months, were traumatic for him and his family.

"It was embarrassing," Mr Kelly said.

"I was extremely embarrassed for the communities that I serviced and the board."

While the charges were never fully laid out in court, after police offered no evidence at the final mention on June 4, Mr Kelly said they related to taxi fares and living away from home allowances totalling about $1000.

"I am deeply disappointed by the fact that I made some mistakes," he said.

Mr Kelly said he was now trying to put the experience behind him, and had moved back to Victoria.

"I've got to get on with my life," he said.