Human trafficking charges laid against Winnipeg man

A 43-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged with the human trafficking of a 25-year-old woman.

According to the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS), the man and woman met in Winnipeg and later travelled together to Brandon, where she was forced to work as an escort from March 2014 until mid-October.

During that time the man would advertise, for a fee, sexual services of the woman, police said, adding he would threaten her with violence if she didn't perform.

On one occasion he did physically assault her, police said.

Members of the WPS's counter exploitation unit began an investigation in the summer. The man was arrested Nov. 6 in downtown Winnipeg.

He is charged with the following offences:

• Trafficking in persons.
• Material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons.
• Living on the avails of prostitution.
• Assault.
• Uttering Threats to cause death or bodily harm.
• Failure to comply with a probation order.
• Failure to comply with the conditions of an undertaking.

He remains in custody.