First human trafficking trial begins in Canada

The trial of Michael Ng, the first person to be tried in Canada on human trafficking charges, has begun in Vancouver. A woman who alleges that he brought her from China to work as a waitress, but forced her into prostitution, has begun testifying. She claims that she was brought to Vancouver by Mr Ng and then told she would have to pay him $11,000 a month as a prostitute at his massage parlour. The woman was obviously distressed during her testimony, crying out in Cantonese “Michael is a bad guy, Michael is a bad guy.” She claims that she wanted to return to China, but she was afraid that if the police in Canada found her she would be put in jail. Ng had also taken all her identification papers and her passport from her. The trial is continuing.