ROSETOWN, Sask. — A woman at the centre of a human trafficking trial in Rosetown says she didn’t believe she would lose her government job in Bangladesh, despite warnings from her employer that her absence could lead to termination.
The complainant, whose name is subject to a publication ban, testified Thursday she left Bangladesh in 2022 on a 15-day leave intended for travel to the United States. Instead, she flew to Toronto on a visitor visa and began applying for jobs in Canada, eventually accepting a position at Empire Diner in Gull Lake, Sask.
She told the court she remained in Canada due to personal hardship, health concerns and financial reasons. Despite repeated reminders from her employer to return, she said she did not believe she would be fired.
“I told them I was sick, that I had back pain,” she testified. “They said to submit proof, including documents from the consulate office.”
Her request to extend her leave was ultimately denied. The Bangladeshi government employer cited internal policy on reason for dismissal.
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During testimony the woman confirmed she kept a TD Bank account with more than $2,000 in savings as a precaution, in case she had to return home unexpectedly.
During cross-examination, she gave conflicting statements about her travel plans. At one point, she said she had no immediate intention to return and had not booked a flight. Later, she testified she had a return ticket booked for Aug. 25, 2022.
She was formally terminated from her government job in 2024, with the dismissal letter sent by email.
Defence counsel challenged several elements of her testimony, including her job application to Empire Diner. While she claimed she was hired as a kitchen helper and waitress, the defence presented documents showing she had initially applied for a cook position — a title reflected in her resume and cover letter.
An email dated Sept. 19, 2022, was introduced into evidence, which the defence said confirmed her application for a cook role. The complainant acknowledged the email but said she couldn’t recall the specifics, noting it had been sent some time ago.
She maintained that her immigration documents and Canadian work permit listed her role as kitchen helper and waitress.
The court also heard that the woman briefly worked at a bagel shop and opened two bank accounts after arriving in Canada. She deposited more than $4,000 between Canadian and U.S. currencies and paid $700 in rent.
She testified that her dismissal from her government job came after the accused, Salim, contacted her previous employers. The defense argued she was terminated for failing to return from the original 15-day vacation she was granted in 2022.
A court-appointed translator struggled at times to interpret complex documents regarding her dismissal, prompting the judge to postpone the reading of several files until Friday to allow proper translation.
The trial is set to continue Friday with further cross-examination.