Two men accused of human trafficking appear in Saskatoon court

By Lisa Joy, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Battlefords News-Optimist

Two men accused of human trafficking appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court Nov. 24 and Nov. 25.

There is now a court ordered ban on publication of the two men’s names. At their first appearance the court placed a publication ban on the identity of the woman who was allegedly being held captive by the two men.

One man is a 23-year-old from Kindersley and the other is a 30-year-old from Saskatoon.

The Kindersley man is charged with trafficking persons, material benefit from trafficking, two counts of uttering threats, theft under $5,000, breach of a release order, and breach of a conditional sentence order. He was denied bail.

The Saskatoon man is charged with trafficking persons, uttering threats, and two counts of breach of a release order. He was granted bail during a show cause hearing in October.

The Saskatoon Police Guns and Gang Unit arrested the two men in the 1500 block of Rayner Avenue on July 2.

The Guns and Gang Unit became involved after the Saskatoon Police received a report June 29 that a 23-year-old woman was being held at a residence over a period of time. The Saskatoon VICE Human Trafficking Unit assisted police and warrants were issued for the two men.

The Saskatoon man is scheduled to appear in Saskatoon Provincial court Dec. 10 to enter a plea and elect how he wants to be tried.

The Kindersley man is scheduled to appear in Saskatoon Provincial Court Dec. 9 to enter a plea.