Domestic Servitude2009
Canada CA
The charges stem from a 9-1-1 call in July, 2009 where Windsor Police Service responded to a report of two persons who were creating a disturbance outside of a residence on Sandwich Street in Windsor. The initial investigation, conducted by Windsor Police, revealed that the victim was a United States citizen. It is alleged that the victims had been brought into Canada by Mark Justice after they met in Battle Creek Michigan. The RCMP Immigration & Passport Section facilitated further responsibility for the investigation, alleging that the man was fraudulently brought into Canada by Mr. Justice, and forced to live at the Sandwich Street residence. The RCMP also determined that Mr. Justice had brought a second US citizen into Canada. Police allege that Mr. Justice brought these individuals into Canada in order to obtain all or a portion of their pensions. The RCMP also determined that two individuals employed at the residence were not legally entitled to work in Canada.
Domestic Servitude2009
Canada CA
Mumtaz Ladha Age: 55 Muslim from Tanzania The Public Prosecution Service of Canada on Thursday approved one charge of human trafficking and one charge of human smuggling against Ladha. According to reports, in 2008 Mumtaz Ladha hired a 21-year-old woman from Africa, promising her a job in a hair salon and a work visa. When the woman arrived in Canada, police say, she was made to work in Ladha’s home as a maid unwillingly for 18 hours a day, seven days a week, with no salary. Mumtaz Ladha also allegedly confiscated her passport. In 2009, the woman was able to escape to a woman’s shelter where workers contacted police, prompting the RCMP Border Integrity Program’s Human Trafficking Team to launch an investigation with West Vancouver police. “This is well beyond what anyone would expect are reasonable working conditions,” said RCMP Const. Michael McLaughlin. “She was essentially a prisoner in the home.” He described a life of forced labour where the victim was often not allowed to sleep if anyone else in the house was awake and she was charged with tasks like hand washing underwear and washing visitors’ cars. “She wasn’t even allowed sufficient food. She was only allowed to eat the table scraps of what the rest of the family had eaten,” said McLaughlin. McLaughlin said that Ladha lived with other family members who were likely aware of the girl’s treatment, but that there was not enough evidence to prosecute them. The charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant IS presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.