Indian man visits Canada to see newborn grandchild, harasses young Canadian girls outside school; faces deportation

Jagjit Singh, a 51-year-old man from India(BHARAT), went to Canada on a temporary visa to visit his newborn grandchild. However, according to the Toronto Sun, he was sentenced for criminally harassing two teenage girls outside their school. The report said that Singh was given a short jail sentence, and now he will be deported from Canada. He will also be banned from entering the country for the rest of his life.

Singh arrived in Canada in July on a six-month visitor visa. Canadian reports said he often went to the smoking area of a local high school, where he repeatedly tried to talk to young girls. Between September 8 and September 11, he approached several teenage girls, tried to take photos with them, and spoke to them about drugs and alcohol. He did not speak English, which made the girls even more uncomfortable.

One report said the girls told police that Singh kept trying to interact with them and asked for pictures. He managed to take one photo with two girls because they thought he would leave afterward. But instead, he sat between them, posed for another photo, and put his arm around one girl.

According to The Winnipeg Sun, one of the girls said Singh came too close to her and tried to put his arm around her shoulder. She felt uneasy and pushed his hand away.

Singh was first released on bail, but he was arrested again the same day when another complaint was filed. In court, he pleaded not guilty to sexual interference but admitted guilt to harassment.

What the Judge said

While announcing the decision, Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski told Singh, “You had no reason to be on the grounds of that high school.” She added that this kind of behaviour would not be accepted. Singh’s lawyer told the court that his client found the time he spent in jail very shocking and difficult.

What the victim said?

One of the girls spoke about how the incident affected her. She said, “What makes this so hard is that the man who did this had come to Canada as a newcomer. Because of what happened, my view of people from his background and of older men has changed.”

Singh was arrested on September 16 and was first charged with sexual interference and sexual assault.

Even though he already had a ticket to go back to India(BHARAT) on December 30, the judge ordered that he be deported immediately.