Toronto men face human trafficking charges

Two men arrested after woman, 22, allegedly kidnapped, forced into prostitution

human trafficking
Dominic Lees, left, and Simon Ho-on face charges of human trafficking, police say. Toronto Police Services

Two Toronto men are facing charges after the alleged kidnapping and human trafficking of a 22-year-old woman.

The woman, whose name is protected by a publication ban, was administered a noxious substance and forced to perform sexual acts for paying customers, according to a Toronto Police report.

The men used violence and deception to maintain control of their captive, police said. She was allegedly assaulted, beaten severely and threatened with a gun.

Police said the traffickers also used a cocktail of drugs to keep the woman either sedated and controllable, or awake to see clients.

She was tattooed with the word “sosa” to let people know she was property of one of the men, according to police.

The men advertised her on websites and forced her to make multiple calls a day while they collected the money made in the sex trade.

Two men appeared in court on April 9 facing charges related to human trafficking and assault.

Simon Ho-On is set to reappear before the courts on April 17 while Dominic Lees’s trial will take place on May first.

Toronto Police declined to comment on whether a larger network of traffickers was involved.

However, they do ask that anyone with information or evidence of human trafficking to contact them.

Police said they would also like to remind everyone that every person involved in the recruitment, transportation or control of an individual is guilty of human trafficking.

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Posted: Apr 16 2019 12:37 pm
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