Toronto Police Service has arrested a 28-year-old Aurora man for human trafficking following an investigation that began in March.
Police said a woman met a man through online dating and began a relationship. A man allegedly procured her to work in the sex trade and trafficked her throughout the GTA and in Montreal. He forced her to give him money she earned and also forced her to marry a man, police said.
Police said the man also withheld her identification and used assault, false promises, and deception to control a woman.
Saman Rezvani was arrested in Richmond Hill on April 27. A search warrant was executed a residence in Aurora.
He is facing 13 charges:
- Trafficking in Persons by Recruiting
- Trafficking in Persons by Exercising Control
- Financial/Material Benefit from Trafficking of Persons Over 18
- Withholding Documents in Relation to Trafficking in Persons Over 18
- Procuring, Recruiting or Exercising Control x2
- Material Benefits from Sexual Services
- Advertising Another Persons Sexual Services
- Assault
- Assault/Choking
- Fraud Not Exceeding $5000 x2
- Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under $5000
Rezvani appeared in the Old City Hall court on April 29.
Police encourage anyone affected by human trafficking to come forward and report it. TPS said human trafficking is "every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation, for a sexual purpose or a forced labour purpose."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Toronto Police Service at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
