An Indian man visiting Canada on a temporary visa has been convicted of criminally harassing two teenage girls outside a high school in Sarnia and will now be deported and banned from re-entering the country.
The man, Jagjit Singh, 51, had travelled to the Sarnia area to visit his newborn grandchild. According to The Winnipeg Sun, a judge ruled that his behaviour near the high school was unacceptable and sentenced him to a short jail term.
“You had no business attending the property of (that) high school," Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski said while delivering the verdict.
“This type of conduct will not be tolerated," he added.
What led to Singh’s arrest
Singh arrived in Canada in July on a six-month visitor visa. Between September 8 and September 11, he repeatedly visited the smoking area outside a local high school. During this time, he approached teenage girls, tried to speak with them and insisted on taking photographs with them.
In one incident, a girl initially refused to be photographed but later agreed in the hope that he would leave. Instead, Singh sat between two girls and signalled for another photo. After the picture was taken, he placed his arm around one of them, making her uncomfortable. She stood up and pushed his hands away.
He was arrested on September 16 and first charged with sexual interference and sexual assault. He was later released on bail but taken into custody again when another complaint was filed. Although granted bail a second time, he remained in custody overnight because no interpreter was available.
Court proceedings and conviction
During his latest hearing, Singh pleaded not guilty to sexual interference but admitted guilt to the lesser charge of criminal harassment through an interpreter and with the help of his lawyer.
Canada Border Services Agency officers were present in court and prepared to take him into custody immediately after the hearing for deportation proceedings. Singh had originally booked a return flight to India for December 30 but was trying to leave earlier following the case.
Impact on the victims
Victim impact statements from both girls were read in court. One of the teenagers said she felt deeply shaken and unsafe following the incident.
She said the experience left her fearful, adding that she often feels intimidated around older men and men of Singh’s ethnicity.
The second girl told the court that the episode damaged her mental wellbeing and made her feel uncomfortable in public spaces.
Restrictions and deportation
As part of the sentence, Singh was placed under a three-year probation order. He is prohibited from contacting the victims or approaching any places connected with them. He is also barred from being near anyone under the age of 16 except for his newborn grandchild.
The order further restricts him from coming within 100 metres of schools, playgrounds, parks, pools and community centres.
With his conviction and deportation order in place, Singh will no longer be allowed to return to Canada.
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