Human trafficking allegations probed
<!-- SPACER DIV FOR SPECIAL ASSOCIATED STORY MUST REMAIN EMPTY--> <!-- ######################################################## --> <!-- ########################################################### -->
<!-- PUBLISH DATE --> March 20, 2010
<!-- AUTHOR 1 --> Nicole O'Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator(Mar 20, 2010)
"I was told that I could come here and start a new life and I was sold into slavery."
That is the claim of a victim in an alleged human trafficking ring based in Hamilton that is said to lure people from Papa, Hungary.
The man, who was too fearful to have his name used, was among a group who claim they were brought to Hamilton with the promise of well-paying work, trained to lie to immigration and government officials and then had all documentation withheld while they worked in construction for free.
None of these claims has been proven in court.
Some of the men found a way to break free and went to authorities.
"We had an opportunity and took it," was all he would say.
These claims are part of an ongoing "human trafficking-like investigation," being conducted by RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency and Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and with assistance from police in Hungary, said RCMP Sergeant Marc LaPorte.
He would not elaborate on the investigation.
The United Nations' Palermo Protocol defines human trafficking as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion."
The protocol also covers abduction, deception, abuse of power and the transfer of payments to exploit a person.
Three Hamilton men have been charged under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for allegedly counselling at least six men to lie to immigration officials, according to court documents.
Attila (a.k.a. Jozsef) Kolompar is charged with one count and Ferenc Karadi is charged with three counts. Ferenc Domotor is charged with two counts of counselling and nine counts of unauthorized employment of a foreign national.
Domotor says he rejects all the allegations, but added that he just received disclosure from the Crown and would like to take time to review the information before commenting further. Andrew Confente, the lawyer representing all three accused, also said he needed time to review the information before commenting.
During Domotor's bail hearing in Hamilton last month, Crown counsel Sandra Antonianni described him as "the head of a group of Hungarian Roma Gypsies that comprise his immediate and extended family members."
Roma, often called Gypsies, are a nomadic ethnic group believed to originate from the Indian subcontinent, with most of the population in Eastern European countries. They were slaves until the 19th century, and still face widespread discrimination.
Antonianni told the court the extended family recruits Hungarian people into Canada, "for the purpose of engaging in unauthorized employment in Mr. Domotor's business (D & M Stucco)."
Antonianni added that these individuals are lured to Canada "with a promise of employment, generous wages and accommodations."
But once they arrive they are forced to work for free and live in substandard accommodations, she said.
"They are exploited for other social service benefits, none of which they receive themselves," Antonianni said. This includes withholding welfare cheques.
The unnamed victim said he arrived late last summer after being approached by a "friend of a friend" in Hungary. He was told the only expense would be the plane ticket, which he could work off in his first few weeks of employment, he said. He was to make "at least $500 cash a week."
"That's what they told me, but when I got here it was a very different story," he claimed.
They took his passport, he said, and he claims he was instructed to claim refugee status and apply for welfare. "They told me what to say ... talk about the Hungarian Guard as oppressing, they told me to amplify the racism in Hungary," he said. He's Roma like some but not all of the alleged victims.
"After we started receiving welfare, we never saw a penny of (it)," he claimed.
Living in one of the alleged perpetrator's basements with four other men, he said all their movement was controlled and supervised. "We weren't starved, but we weren't well kept."
They worked at various construction sites, he said, and he was never too sure where he was.
He believes the person who approached him in Hungary was given $800 in Hungarian currency for him and each person he brought to the organization.
"I fear for my family back home ... they kept saying we should continue working for our family's safety," he alleged. "I want my family to be safe ... but I'm afraid that if I talk to (my family) they'll get hurt."
While reading an excerpt of evidence during Domotor's bail hearing, Antonianni referenced one of the alleged victims listed on the charges, David Bogdan.
She said Bogdan was approached by a man in Hungary named Sandor, who is believed to be Domotor's brother. She said Bogdan was told Domotor could offer him paid employment in Canada and Sandor put Bogdan in touch with Domotor on the phone to arrange the details.
Bogdan was told he would earn about $1,000 a month working in the stucco industry, she said.
He arrived May 23, 2008, and was admitted as a temporary resident. For the first few months he worked finishing the basement of a Springbrook Road home in Ancaster, which was believed to be a previous home belonging to Domotor, according to court documents. He received no payment for that or subsequent work.
Antonianni said Bogdan was also taken to a local citizenship and immigration office to apply for refugee status. "Mr. Domotor instructed David as what to say, to say that he was afraid to return to Hungary because he was of Roma descent and he faced prosecution there," she said, adding that this was not true.
Antonianni also referenced another alleged victim named Tamas who had a similar story.
It was his supervisor at a work site who eventually complained to police when he found out Tamas wasn't being paid and about how he came to Canada, she said.
All three accused have been released on bail, pending their next court appearance.
A magát félelemből megnevezni nem kívánó férfit több társával együtt azzal csábították az Ontario-tó partján fekvő Hamiltonba, hogy jól fizetett munkát kapnak.
Ehelyett kitanították őket, hogyan hazudjanak a bevándorlási hivatal embereinek, visszatartották úti okmányaikat és építkezéseken ingyen dolgoztatták őket.
Egyelőre tart a a kanadai hatóságok vizsgálata - írja a Hamilton Spectator, a város helyi lapjának szombati száma.
Emberkereskedelem gyanújával folyik a vizsgálat Kolompár Attila (máshol József) Karádi Ferenc és Dömötör Ferenc ügyében, akik legalább hat embernek azt „tanácsolták”, hazudjanak a bevándorlási hatóság alkalmazottjainak. Dömötör esetében az a gyanú is felmerült, hogy illegálisan foglalkoztatott külföldi állampolgárokat. Dömötör tagadja a vádakat.
Sandra Antonianni, a vád képviselője, Dömötört a közvetlen és távolabbi családtagokból álló magyar cigánycsoport vezetőjének tartja. Szerinte számos cigányt Magyarországról Kanadába csábítottak azzal, hogy jól fizető munkát kapnak, jó körülmények közé kerülnek. Ehelyett rémes körülmények között voltak kénytelenek lakni, és arra kényszerítették őket, hogy ingyen dolgozzanak. Ugyanakkor helyettük mások vették fel a szociális segélyeket.
A névtelen nyilatkozó elmondta: nyár végén érkezett Kanadába, előzőleg egy „barát barátja” kereste fel, aki azzal áltatta, hogy csak a repülőjegyet kell megvennie, ami már első néhány hét keresetéből visszajön neki. „Meglesz a heti 500 kanadai dollár (azaz 90 ezer forint) ” – biztosította a „barát barátja”. Amikor megérkezett, minden másképpen történt. Útlevelét elvették, és utasították, adja be menekültkérelmét, és jelentkezzen szociális segélyre. Megmondták mit mondjon, amikor a hatóságok meghallgatják: „beszélj az elnyomó Magyar Gárdáról, próbáld felnagyítani a magyarországi rasszizmust.” (Mint a lap megjegyzi, a nyilatkozó cigány volt, de az emberkereskedők áldozatai között nemcsak cigányok voltak.) „Miután kezdték küldeni a szociális segélyt, mi abból egy pennyt sem láttunk” – tette hozzá.
Négy másik társával együtt az egyik gyanúsított pincéjében kellett berendezkedniük. Minden lépésüket figyelték. „Nem éheztünk, de nem is tartottak jól bennünket” – mondta. Különböző építkezéseken dolgoztatták őket, bár soha nem tudta, pontosan hol van. Aki Magyarországon verbuválta, annak mintegy 150 ezer forint ütötte a markát minden egyes beszervezett után. A nyilatkozó szerint otthon maradt családjukkal zsarolták őket, csak azt hajtogatták, hogy az otthon maradottak biztonsága miatt kell itt dolgozniuk. „Ezért nem mondom el a nevemet, félek, hogy a családomnak baja esik” – tette hozzá a névtelen nyilatkozó.
Az ügyész egy nevet mégis említett: Bogdán Dávidét. Akit felkeresett Dömötör Ferenc testvére, Sándor, azzal, hogy Kanadában munkaalkalom van számára, csak fel kell hívnia testvérét, aki elmondja a részleteket. Közölte, Bogdán havi 1000 dollárt is megkereshet az építőiparban. Bogdán 2008. május 23-án érkezett Hamiltonba, ahol ideiglenes rezidens státuszt kapott. Hónapokig dolgozott Dömötör korábbi lakásának rendbetételén, fizetést nem kapott. Elvitték a helyi bevándorlási hivatalba, hogy kérvényezzen menekült státuszt. Dömötör utasította, mondja azt, hogy roma származású, és ha hazamenne, bűnvádi eljárás indulna ellene. Ez nem volt igaz – ismerte el Bogdán.
Hamilton Spectator - hvg.hu
<!-- SPACER DIV FOR SPECIAL ASSOCIATED STORY MUST REMAIN EMPTY--> <!-- ######################################################## --> <!-- ########################################################### -->
<!-- PUBLISH DATE --> March 20, 2010
<!-- AUTHOR 1 --> Nicole O'Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator(Mar 20, 2010)
"I was told that I could come here and start a new life and I was sold into slavery."
That is the claim of a victim in an alleged human trafficking ring based in Hamilton that is said to lure people from Papa, Hungary.
The man, who was too fearful to have his name used, was among a group who claim they were brought to Hamilton with the promise of well-paying work, trained to lie to immigration and government officials and then had all documentation withheld while they worked in construction for free.
None of these claims has been proven in court.
Some of the men found a way to break free and went to authorities.
"We had an opportunity and took it," was all he would say.
These claims are part of an ongoing "human trafficking-like investigation," being conducted by RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency and Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and with assistance from police in Hungary, said RCMP Sergeant Marc LaPorte.
He would not elaborate on the investigation.
The United Nations' Palermo Protocol defines human trafficking as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion."
The protocol also covers abduction, deception, abuse of power and the transfer of payments to exploit a person.
Three Hamilton men have been charged under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for allegedly counselling at least six men to lie to immigration officials, according to court documents.
Attila (a.k.a. Jozsef) Kolompar is charged with one count and Ferenc Karadi is charged with three counts. Ferenc Domotor is charged with two counts of counselling and nine counts of unauthorized employment of a foreign national.
Domotor says he rejects all the allegations, but added that he just received disclosure from the Crown and would like to take time to review the information before commenting further. Andrew Confente, the lawyer representing all three accused, also said he needed time to review the information before commenting.
During Domotor's bail hearing in Hamilton last month, Crown counsel Sandra Antonianni described him as "the head of a group of Hungarian Roma Gypsies that comprise his immediate and extended family members."
Roma, often called Gypsies, are a nomadic ethnic group believed to originate from the Indian subcontinent, with most of the population in Eastern European countries. They were slaves until the 19th century, and still face widespread discrimination.
Antonianni told the court the extended family recruits Hungarian people into Canada, "for the purpose of engaging in unauthorized employment in Mr. Domotor's business (D & M Stucco)."
Antonianni added that these individuals are lured to Canada "with a promise of employment, generous wages and accommodations."
But once they arrive they are forced to work for free and live in substandard accommodations, she said.
"They are exploited for other social service benefits, none of which they receive themselves," Antonianni said. This includes withholding welfare cheques.
The unnamed victim said he arrived late last summer after being approached by a "friend of a friend" in Hungary. He was told the only expense would be the plane ticket, which he could work off in his first few weeks of employment, he said. He was to make "at least $500 cash a week."
"That's what they told me, but when I got here it was a very different story," he claimed.
They took his passport, he said, and he claims he was instructed to claim refugee status and apply for welfare. "They told me what to say ... talk about the Hungarian Guard as oppressing, they told me to amplify the racism in Hungary," he said. He's Roma like some but not all of the alleged victims.
"After we started receiving welfare, we never saw a penny of (it)," he claimed.
Living in one of the alleged perpetrator's basements with four other men, he said all their movement was controlled and supervised. "We weren't starved, but we weren't well kept."
They worked at various construction sites, he said, and he was never too sure where he was.
He believes the person who approached him in Hungary was given $800 in Hungarian currency for him and each person he brought to the organization.
"I fear for my family back home ... they kept saying we should continue working for our family's safety," he alleged. "I want my family to be safe ... but I'm afraid that if I talk to (my family) they'll get hurt."
While reading an excerpt of evidence during Domotor's bail hearing, Antonianni referenced one of the alleged victims listed on the charges, David Bogdan.
She said Bogdan was approached by a man in Hungary named Sandor, who is believed to be Domotor's brother. She said Bogdan was told Domotor could offer him paid employment in Canada and Sandor put Bogdan in touch with Domotor on the phone to arrange the details.
Bogdan was told he would earn about $1,000 a month working in the stucco industry, she said.
He arrived May 23, 2008, and was admitted as a temporary resident. For the first few months he worked finishing the basement of a Springbrook Road home in Ancaster, which was believed to be a previous home belonging to Domotor, according to court documents. He received no payment for that or subsequent work.
Antonianni said Bogdan was also taken to a local citizenship and immigration office to apply for refugee status. "Mr. Domotor instructed David as what to say, to say that he was afraid to return to Hungary because he was of Roma descent and he faced prosecution there," she said, adding that this was not true.
Antonianni also referenced another alleged victim named Tamas who had a similar story.
It was his supervisor at a work site who eventually complained to police when he found out Tamas wasn't being paid and about how he came to Canada, she said.
All three accused have been released on bail, pending their next court appearance.
A magát félelemből megnevezni nem kívánó férfit több társával együtt azzal csábították az Ontario-tó partján fekvő Hamiltonba, hogy jól fizetett munkát kapnak.
Ehelyett kitanították őket, hogyan hazudjanak a bevándorlási hivatal embereinek, visszatartották úti okmányaikat és építkezéseken ingyen dolgoztatták őket.
Egyelőre tart a a kanadai hatóságok vizsgálata - írja a Hamilton Spectator, a város helyi lapjának szombati száma.
Emberkereskedelem gyanújával folyik a vizsgálat Kolompár Attila (máshol József) Karádi Ferenc és Dömötör Ferenc ügyében, akik legalább hat embernek azt „tanácsolták”, hazudjanak a bevándorlási hatóság alkalmazottjainak. Dömötör esetében az a gyanú is felmerült, hogy illegálisan foglalkoztatott külföldi állampolgárokat. Dömötör tagadja a vádakat.
Sandra Antonianni, a vád képviselője, Dömötört a közvetlen és távolabbi családtagokból álló magyar cigánycsoport vezetőjének tartja. Szerinte számos cigányt Magyarországról Kanadába csábítottak azzal, hogy jól fizető munkát kapnak, jó körülmények közé kerülnek. Ehelyett rémes körülmények között voltak kénytelenek lakni, és arra kényszerítették őket, hogy ingyen dolgozzanak. Ugyanakkor helyettük mások vették fel a szociális segélyeket.
A névtelen nyilatkozó elmondta: nyár végén érkezett Kanadába, előzőleg egy „barát barátja” kereste fel, aki azzal áltatta, hogy csak a repülőjegyet kell megvennie, ami már első néhány hét keresetéből visszajön neki. „Meglesz a heti 500 kanadai dollár (azaz 90 ezer forint) ” – biztosította a „barát barátja”. Amikor megérkezett, minden másképpen történt. Útlevelét elvették, és utasították, adja be menekültkérelmét, és jelentkezzen szociális segélyre. Megmondták mit mondjon, amikor a hatóságok meghallgatják: „beszélj az elnyomó Magyar Gárdáról, próbáld felnagyítani a magyarországi rasszizmust.” (Mint a lap megjegyzi, a nyilatkozó cigány volt, de az emberkereskedők áldozatai között nemcsak cigányok voltak.) „Miután kezdték küldeni a szociális segélyt, mi abból egy pennyt sem láttunk” – tette hozzá.
Négy másik társával együtt az egyik gyanúsított pincéjében kellett berendezkedniük. Minden lépésüket figyelték. „Nem éheztünk, de nem is tartottak jól bennünket” – mondta. Különböző építkezéseken dolgoztatták őket, bár soha nem tudta, pontosan hol van. Aki Magyarországon verbuválta, annak mintegy 150 ezer forint ütötte a markát minden egyes beszervezett után. A nyilatkozó szerint otthon maradt családjukkal zsarolták őket, csak azt hajtogatták, hogy az otthon maradottak biztonsága miatt kell itt dolgozniuk. „Ezért nem mondom el a nevemet, félek, hogy a családomnak baja esik” – tette hozzá a névtelen nyilatkozó.
Az ügyész egy nevet mégis említett: Bogdán Dávidét. Akit felkeresett Dömötör Ferenc testvére, Sándor, azzal, hogy Kanadában munkaalkalom van számára, csak fel kell hívnia testvérét, aki elmondja a részleteket. Közölte, Bogdán havi 1000 dollárt is megkereshet az építőiparban. Bogdán 2008. május 23-án érkezett Hamiltonba, ahol ideiglenes rezidens státuszt kapott. Hónapokig dolgozott Dömötör korábbi lakásának rendbetételén, fizetést nem kapott. Elvitték a helyi bevándorlási hivatalba, hogy kérvényezzen menekült státuszt. Dömötör utasította, mondja azt, hogy roma származású, és ha hazamenne, bűnvádi eljárás indulna ellene. Ez nem volt igaz – ismerte el Bogdán.
Hamilton Spectator - hvg.hu
