Indian man on Canada visit to meet grandchild to be deported for harassing school girls
PTC News Desk: A 51-year-old Indian man named Jagjit Singh will be deported from Canada after he was convicted of criminally harassing two teenage girls outside a high school in Sarnia. Singh had visited Canada on a six-month tourist visa to meet his newborn grandchild, however he now will be permanently banned from re-entering the country.
Singh reportedly forcefully tried to communicate with teenage girls and to take photos in the smoking area of a high school in Sarnia between September 8 and September 11. Even though the girls repeatedly told him no, the man kept insisting on taking pictures with them. He forced himself between the two girls and signalled for another photo. After the second photo was clicked, he put his arm around one of the girls, making her uncomfortable. She immediately pushed him away, according to the Canadian newspaper Toronto Sun.
After this incident, Singh was arrested on September 16 and charged with sexual interference and sexual assault. He got bail a few days later, but was arrested again the same day after another complaint was filed. Although he was granted bail again, he had to stay in custody for another night because he didn’t know English and an interpreter wasn’t available at the time. In court, Singh pleaded not guilty to sexual interference but admitted to the lesser charge of criminal harassment in a Sarnia courtroom. Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski ruled that such behaviour, like what Singh did in the smoking area, is unacceptable. She also said that Singh should not be allowed on school property.
Singh has a return ticket for December 30. However, as reported by the Toronto Sun, he may have thought about leaving the country earlier because of his legal troubles. He has also been banned from entering Canada again.
- With inputs from agencies
