Portage la Prairie hotel owners charged with trafficking workers
Manitoba RCMP said at a news conference in Winnipeg on Thursday that its human-trafficking unit began an investigation after local RCMP were sent to a disturbance at the business on Feb. 9.
'Further to the initial investigation, a complaint was received about possible labour trafficking taking place at the same establishment. Two female victims came forward to police at that time,' a news release said.
'As the investigation progressed, two additional victims, who also worked at the hotel, were identified.'
Officers discovered the victims were recruited from another country and promised legal work, fair wages and affordable living in Manitoba through Labour Market Impact Assessment (LIMA) agreements.
The people worked 15-hour days and were paid well under minimum wage, the release said. Threats of deportation and intimidation were used to keep the victims working, RCMP said.
'In one instance, the victim's identification documents were being withheld,' RCMP said.
The promised LIMA agreements went unfulfilled for three of the four workers, RCMP said. The documents would have legalized their work in Canada.
Jai Inder Sandhu, a 62-year-old male owner of the hotel, was arrested June 12 and charged with four counts of trafficking in persons, two counts of uttering threats and single counts of trafficking, trafficking (material benefit) and withholding/destroying documents.
Satbir Sandhu, a 48-year-old female owner of the hotel, is charged with four counts of trafficking in persons and one of trafficking (material benefit).
'Our goal from the outset was to help these victims of labour trafficking. They all came to Canada in good faith, believing they were going to work legally and be protected. Instead, they were threatened and forced to work for very little pay,' Sgt. Cathy Farrell of the Manitoba RCMP's human-trafficking and counter-exploitation unit said in the release.
'We remain committed to helping these victims and all others within the province who are being trafficked.'
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
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