Proceedings in a high-profile human trafficking and sexual assault trial resumed Tuesday in Rosetown, with testimony from the complainant in the second day of the hearing.
The case involves accused Mohammad Masum and Sohel Haider, both arrested in June 2023. The pair are charged with human trafficking, while Masum also faces separate charges of sexual assault. The complainant's identity is protected under a publication ban.
Testimony was heard Tuesday morning from the complainant, who detailed financial exchanges and incidents of alleged sexual misconduct. The woman told the court she had kept records of money paid and secretly recorded conversations to support her claims. She testified Masum had touched her inappropriately multiple times and, in some instances, allegedly forced himself on her.
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While testifying through an interpreter, the complainant expressed concern over the accuracy of the translation. She said she had noticed errors during the first day of proceedings and attempted to correct them in real time. The issue was raised in court Tuesday, prompting Judge Martinez to address the importance of accurate, complete interpretation.
"This isn’t a marathon," Martinez said. "We want your answers to be as complete as possible. If the interpreter isn’t sure, they should ask for clarification. Everyone here must feel confident that the translation is fair."
It was also noted that a similar issue had occurred during previous testimony involving the accused. A court officer explained the difficulty of translating complex testimony between Bengali and English, emphasizing that even small omissions could impact the case.
The interpreter was repositioned in the courtroom Tuesday to improve communication between the parties, and Judge Martinez reiterated the need for transparency and clarity, noting that this is the first case of its kind to be tried in Saskatchewan.
Despite the concerns, the complainant’s testimony continued throughout the morning. She recounted instances of alleged sexual harassment and non-consensual touching by one of the accused, saying she kept records of money owed and secretly recorded a conversation in March 2023 to support her claims.
“I wanted to have proof of what Masum had done to me,” she testified. “He touched me inappropriately several times. Sometimes he tried to force himself on me, and other times he succeeded.”
The court heard she confided in another man, who dismissed her concerns and allegedly said no one would believe her.
The court also reviewed financial records during the morning session, with the complainant confirming dates and amounts of payments received and debts repaid.
However, proceedings were abruptly paused after the lunch break when lead Crown prosecutor Dunning had to take leave. Court was adjourned for the day.
The trial, which was initially expected to take five days, has now stretched far beyond that timeframe, prompting a Jordan application by the defence seeking to have the charges stayed due to delays.
The hearing is scheduled to resume Wednesday at 10 a.m. Judge Martinez has yet to render a decision on the Jordan application.