VANCOUVER (27 June 2013)- The
British Columbia Supreme Court made history by ruling that a Vancouver man is
guilty of human trafficking, a first for Canada. While Franco Yiu Kawn Orr was
found guilty of the charged brought against him, his partner Oi Ling Nicole
Huen was acquitted by the jury.
Leticia Sarmiento,
a Filipino nanny, had worked for the pair by taking care of
their children since 2007. She first was in Hong Kong, and later in Canada in
September of 2008. The move to Canada resulted in a big change in working
conditions for Sarmiento.
During the
trial, Sarmiento testified that she was told by the couple that her working
conditions would be the same as in Hong Kong, where she had two days off a week
and regular hours, and that she would become a permanent resident in Canada
after two years.
Sarmiento said
that unlike in Canada, she was also allowed to socialize with other people, had
her own cell phone to make frequent calls to the Philippines and took the
children under her care out of the home on her own.
But she said
all that changed when she arrived in Canada, where she was forced to work
16-hour days, seven days a week and also clean the house.
"When they
see that the (other) nannies are talking to me, Mr. Orr would approach me and
he would tell me there's no need for you to talk to the nannies,'' she said,
describing her past experiences visiting a local community centre.
In June of
2010, Sarmiento called 911 and told responding police officers she needed help,
testifying she called the police after an altercation over the type of milk she
fed one of the children turned physical when Huen pushed her.
She packed her
things under the watch of police officers and was then taken to a women's
shelter, the trial heard, but the six-month work visa she travelled to Canada
on had long-since expired.
Orr is expected to return
to court July 10 to set a sentencing hearing.
Full account available at:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Vancouver+convicted+human+trafficking+Filipino+nanny+case/8584298/story.html