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Two men convicted in a human trafficking case involving a Bangladeshi woman who was exploited while working at restaurants in Saskatchewan have been sentenced to prison, with one receiving a 14-year term.
Mohammad Masum was sentenced to 14 years in prison for human trafficking and sexual assault on Thursday in Saskatoon. He was also ordered to pay approximately $12,000 in restitution.
Read more:
- Two men charged with human trafficking at Edenwold business: RCMP
- Labour trafficking likely more widespread than reported: experts
- Calgary man facing human trafficking charges after investigation led by Regina officers
Sohel Haider received a four-year prison sentence for human trafficking and was ordered to pay approximately $5,800 in restitution.
The sentences follow guilty verdicts delivered in August after a trial examining the woman’s treatment while she was working at restaurants in Gull Lake, Tisdale and Elrose between Aug. 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023.
The woman’s identity is protected by a publication ban.
Victim described exploitation and lasting trauma
During sentencing, the court heard a victim-impact statement detailing the lasting emotional and psychological effects of the woman’s experience.
“I feel like I was a product and he was selling me as a customer,” she wrote, describing how she was moved between restaurants.
In her statement, the victim described losing the confidence and independence she once had.
“Now I am scared of talking to people or taking up space,” she wrote.
The woman told the court she felt trapped and isolated, fearing that quitting could leave her stranded outdoors during Saskatchewan’s winter.
She also expressed concerns for her husband and family in Bangladesh after being told Haider had political influence in her home country.
She said information about her experience had reached people in Bangladesh, resulting in negative treatment of her family.
Crown sought lengthy sentences
Crown prosecutor Leslie Dunning argued that the offences caused significant psychological harm, leaving the woman fearful and struggling with her independence.
For Haider, the Crown sought a sentence of five-and-a-half years, citing the woman’s loss of confidence and the circumstances of her exploitation.
Dunning acknowledged mitigating factors, including Haider’s health concerns, lack of a previous criminal record and family support.
Haider’s lawyer, Chris Gratton, argued for the four-year minimum sentence and told the court his client could not afford to pay restitution.
Judge Miguel Martinez ultimately imposed the four-year sentence.
In Masum’s case, the Crown sought 15 years in prison, pointing to the exploitation of the woman for both labour and sexual gratification. Masum was convicted of human trafficking and three counts of sexual assault.
Dunning also cited threats involving the woman’s immigration status and the psychological abuse she experienced.
The Crown had also requested a 20-year sex offender registration order and $12,268 in restitution.
Defence argues for reduced sentence
Masum’s defence lawyers, Brian Pfefferle and Zachary Carter, sought a sentence ranging from seven to nine years.
Carter presented letters of support from Masum’s family and mosque community, noting that the 45-year-old Canadian citizen has teenage children who have also been affected by the proceedings.
The defence argued that the court should consider the principle of totality to ensure the combined punishment for multiple offences was not unduly harsh.
Following sentencing arguments, both Masum and Haider were given an opportunity to address the court, but both declined.
Martinez sentenced Masum to 14 years in prison and ordered him to pay approximately $12,000 in restitution.
Case involved three Saskatchewan communities
The convictions stemmed from the exploitation of a woman who came to Canada seeking employment and a future in the country.
Instead, the court heard, she was moved between restaurants in three Saskatchewan communities, subjected to long working hours and deprived of fair compensation.
The sentencing concludes a significant stage of the criminal proceedings involving both men, who were found guilty in August.
