Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TORONTO80
2009-04-21 17:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Toronto
Cable title:
RECENT CONVICTION ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HEIGHTENED COMMITMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO5355 RR RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHON #0080 1111733 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 211733Z APR 09 FM AMCONSUL TORONTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2791 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE RUEADRO/HQ ICE DRO WASHINGTON DC RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0037
UNCLAS TORONTO 000080
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND G/TIP (BARBARA FLECK)
DHS FOR ICE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS AND PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS
DHS CIS OFFICE OF REFUGEE, ASYLUM, AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KFRD KWMN PHUM PREF
CVIS, SMIG, PGOV, CA
SUBJECT: RECENT CONVICTION ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HEIGHTENED COMMITMENT
TO TARGET HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Ref: (A) Toronto 12 (B) Ottawa 304
UNCLAS TORONTO 000080
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND G/TIP (BARBARA FLECK)
DHS FOR ICE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS AND PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS
DHS CIS OFFICE OF REFUGEE, ASYLUM, AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KFRD KWMN PHUM PREF
CVIS, SMIG, PGOV, CA
SUBJECT: RECENT CONVICTION ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HEIGHTENED COMMITMENT
TO TARGET HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Ref: (A) Toronto 12 (B) Ottawa 304
1. (U) On April 16, a Toronto-area man was convicted of human
trafficking, of gaining material benefit from human trafficking, and
of other charges, making it the third such conviction in the Greater
Toronto Area (GTA). The case also sets a precedent as the first
conviction in Canada under a section of the criminal code that
specifically targets persons obtaining material benefits from human
trafficking. The conviction is an example of law enforcement
officials increasingly focusing attention and resources on fighting
TIP since Canada amended its criminal code in September 2005 to
include anti-trafficking laws.
2. (U) In October 2008, police from the Peel Region (just west of
Toronto) arrested Vytautas Vilutis, a Toronto-area man, after he
allegedly forced a local woman to solicit prostitution on online
Craigslist classified ads and availed himself of the proceeds. The
victim accused Vilutis of controlling her movements, assaulting her,
and threatening her when she did not turn over her money to him. On
April 16, Vilutis pled guilty to the charges of human trafficking
and obtaining material benefit from human trafficking, as well as to
assault, and has been sentenced to serve two years. The case is the
first conviction under section 279.2 (under the human trafficking
criminal code 279),which specifically targets those who benefit
monetarily from trafficking in persons.
3. (U) Comment: This latest conviction, along with others (reftel
A),demonstrates the increased resources (i.e. police officers and
investigation hours) that Canadian authorities are committing to
tackle human trafficking. In the few years since anti-trafficking
laws were introduced, police in Ontario have made great strides in
identifying trafficking victims and prosecuting offenders.
Moreover, each successfully prosecuted case demonstrates an
increasing understanding by local courts of the tragedy of human
trafficking, and the press reporting on such cases also helps to
educate the public about the problem.
NAY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND G/TIP (BARBARA FLECK)
DHS FOR ICE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS AND PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS
DHS CIS OFFICE OF REFUGEE, ASYLUM, AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIP KCRM KFRD KWMN PHUM PREF
CVIS, SMIG, PGOV, CA
SUBJECT: RECENT CONVICTION ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HEIGHTENED COMMITMENT
TO TARGET HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Ref: (A) Toronto 12 (B) Ottawa 304
1. (U) On April 16, a Toronto-area man was convicted of human
trafficking, of gaining material benefit from human trafficking, and
of other charges, making it the third such conviction in the Greater
Toronto Area (GTA). The case also sets a precedent as the first
conviction in Canada under a section of the criminal code that
specifically targets persons obtaining material benefits from human
trafficking. The conviction is an example of law enforcement
officials increasingly focusing attention and resources on fighting
TIP since Canada amended its criminal code in September 2005 to
include anti-trafficking laws.
2. (U) In October 2008, police from the Peel Region (just west of
Toronto) arrested Vytautas Vilutis, a Toronto-area man, after he
allegedly forced a local woman to solicit prostitution on online
Craigslist classified ads and availed himself of the proceeds. The
victim accused Vilutis of controlling her movements, assaulting her,
and threatening her when she did not turn over her money to him. On
April 16, Vilutis pled guilty to the charges of human trafficking
and obtaining material benefit from human trafficking, as well as to
assault, and has been sentenced to serve two years. The case is the
first conviction under section 279.2 (under the human trafficking
criminal code 279),which specifically targets those who benefit
monetarily from trafficking in persons.
3. (U) Comment: This latest conviction, along with others (reftel
A),demonstrates the increased resources (i.e. police officers and
investigation hours) that Canadian authorities are committing to
tackle human trafficking. In the few years since anti-trafficking
laws were introduced, police in Ontario have made great strides in
identifying trafficking victims and prosecuting offenders.
Moreover, each successfully prosecuted case demonstrates an
increasing understanding by local courts of the tragedy of human
trafficking, and the press reporting on such cases also helps to
educate the public about the problem.
NAY