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ROSETOWN, Sask. — A former Saskatchewan MLA grew visibly agitated on the stand Wednesday as the high-profile human trafficking and sexual assault trial of two rural restaurant owners continued in a Rosetown courtroom.
Hugh Nerlien, who represented Kelvington–Wadena from 2016 until 2024, was cross-examined by defense counsel about his involvement in the case. At one point, he accused the lawyer of seeking a “gotcha moment,” prompting multiple reminders from Judge Martinez to remain composed and respond directly.
The trial, now in its third week, centers on allegations that Mohammad Masum and Sohel Haider trafficked and exploited a woman who worked at three small-town Saskatchewan restaurants: Empire Diner in Gull Lake, Little Town Restaurant in Tisdale, and Bob’s Diner in Elrose.
Masum also faces a sexual assault charge.
Nerlien told court he discreetly passed the woman a printed note in March 2023 during a luncheon at a Tisdale restaurant. The note, he said, included contact information for Jody Campbell, a local immigration settlement worker, and his own business card.
Nerlien said he travelled to Tisdale after learning of concerns raised by fellow Saskatchewan Party MLA Doug Steele, who had encountered the woman months earlier in his Cypress Hills constituency. Court heard Steele suspected she was in a precarious work situation after meeting her at Empire Diner in Gull Lake.
“He shared with me that something didn’t seem right — that it wasn’t a normal employer-employee relationship,” Nerlien said.
Judge Martinez, while directing Nerlien during testimony, confirmed that Steele will be called to testify later in the trial to clarify his involvement. He emphasized that Nerlien’s testimony was limited to his own interactions with the complainant.
Nerlien said the woman appeared frightened and later told him, “If he asks what you gave me, tell him it’s garbage.” He and Steele chose not to alert police at the time, believing the situation required caution and discretion.
“I didn’t know if it was criminal, immigration-related, or something else entirely,” Nerlien said. “But I believed she needed help.”
Under cross-examination, the defense pressed Nerlien about missing communications with the woman. He previously stated that text and email messages had vanished when either he or the woman changed phones — though in court, he could not recall whose phone was replaced or when.
He maintained that a printed copy of the note survived because it had been filed separately with materials related to her resume, while most of his other MLA documents were deleted or shredded before the spring 2024 session in accordance with legislative rules.
When asked why this document was preserved, Nerlien replied: “It’s complicated.” He told court he voluntarily handed it over to RCMP in April 2023 and later brought a copy to a meeting with Crown prosecutors.
He also testified that he had tried to help the woman with her résumé and job search, though the complainant firmly denied receiving any such assistance. Speaking through a Bengali interpreter Wednesday afternoon, she said she only spoke with Nerlien once.
She also described her background, stating she holds two master’s degrees and previously worked at a geological research institute in Bangladesh. Life there, she said, was “first class.”
“I wouldn’t say we were wealthy, but we didn’t have any needs,” she testified.
She arrived in Toronto on a visitor’s visa and struggled to find work, eventually applying to restaurant job ads in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Her first offer came from Empire Diner.
Court also heard that an economic development officer contacted Nerlien following his visit to Little Town Restaurant in Tisdale. The officer said a restaurant owner or manager had raised concerns about why Nerlien was there — a detail Nerlien said signaled the situation was being closely monitored.
“I would hope anyone would be concerned in a situation like that,” he said. “If I could help, I would help. I don’t separate my role as MLA from my role as a community member.”
The defense concluded its cross-examination of Nerlien by mid-afternoon. The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday, with cross-examination of the complainant to continue. The date for MLA Doug Steele’s testimony has not yet been confirmed.