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Two Bangladeshi nationals have been sentenced to prison in Canada for human trafficking, labour exploitation and sexual abuse of a Bangladeshi woman after luring her with promises of a work permit and permanent residency.
Mohammad Masum was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Sohel Haider received a four-year jail term, according to Canadian media outlets CBC News and CTV.
Saskatoon provincial court judge Miguel Martinez delivered the verdict on Thursday, October 22. Masum was found guilty on three charges involving human trafficking and sexual assault, while Haider was sentenced for human trafficking.
According to evidence presented in court, the victim had worked in government service in Bangladesh for around 18 years before travelling to Canada in the hope of securing a restaurant job and eventually obtaining permanent residency.
She worked at restaurants in Gull Lake and Tisdale, Saskatchewan, from August 2022 to March 2023.
Court evidence and findings indicated that she was forced to work long hours six days a week without receiving proper wages. Uncertainty was also created over her work permit, leaving her in a vulnerable position.
At one point, Masum took possession of her passport and sexually assaulted her multiple times. The court found the offences proven.
The woman eventually managed to escape the exploitative situation with assistance from local people after moving to a restaurant in Elrose under a work permit. She subsequently sought legal assistance.
In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered Masum to pay CAD 12,268 in unpaid wages to the victim and Haider to pay CAD 5,885.16.
In her victim impact statement, the woman said the incidents had severely affected her life, dignity, future, family and professional career. She also described being psychologically traumatised and finding it difficult to trust others as she had before.
The court imposed a publication ban to protect the victim’s identity.
The case highlights the vulnerability of prospective immigrants and temporary foreign workers to labour exploitation and human trafficking. The verdict underscores that exploiting people through promises of employment, work permits or permanent residency constitutes a serious criminal offence.
