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A Tisdale settlement worker told a Saskatchewan courtroom this week that she had serious concerns about the safety and immigration status of a woman at the centre of a human trafficking case, describing the referral she received as highly unusual and troubling.
Jody Campbell (Armstrong), a settlement advisor with Northeast Newcomer Services in Tisdale, testified she was contacted in early March 2023 by Saskatchewan MLA Hugh Nerlien, who asked her to connect with the complainant. He cited possible employment and immigration issues but offered few details.
Campbell, who has worked in newcomer services since 2019, said the nature of the referral stood out. She explained that most of her work involves helping clients access community supports, locate housing, or navigate basic documentation, not addressing potential trafficking or immigration violations.
When she met the complainant on March 16, Campbell testified she became concerned that the woman was working without proper documentation and living in unsafe conditions. She followed up with the complainant several times, trying to assess how best to support her without putting her at further risk.
Campbell also told the court she has experience working with individuals affected by sexual violence and collaborated with a local shelter and support workers to coordinate what she called her first-ever formal “extraction plan.” That plan helped the complainant leave what Campbell described as a dangerous environment.
“She said she felt relieved, but scared,” Campbell said, recalling a phone call with the complainant after she arrived safely at a shelter. “I told her safety was the top priority, and we would figure everything else out after.”
The court heard the woman had limited privacy at home and could not access her phone while working, making communication difficult. As a result, planning was conducted in short, carefully timed messages.
The case centres around two men, Mohammad Masum and Sohel Haider, who were arrested in June 2023. Both are charged with human trafficking, while Masum also faces a sexual assault charge. The complainant’s identity is protected under a publication ban.
The trial continues on Friday.