A 51-year-old man from India has been deported from Canada after being convicted of criminal harassment. Jagjit Singh, who was on a six-month visitor visa, faced serious charges for harassing two teenage girls outside a high school in Ontario.
Incident Overview
Singh arrived in Canada in July to visit his newborn grandchild. Shortly after his arrival, he began frequenting a smoking area outside a local high school in Sarnia. Between September 8 and 11, he was reported to have harassed young girls by attempting to take photographs with them and making inappropriate comments about drugs and alcohol.
Victim Accounts
- One girl initially refused to take a photo but later complied in hopes of deterring Singh.
- Singh invaded her personal space and attempted to put an arm around her, leading her to physically push him away.
- He was seen following female students as they left the school premises.
Legal Proceedings
Singh was arrested on September 16 and charged with sexual interference and sexual assault. He was granted bail shortly after his arrest but faced rearrest due to a new complaint. Despite receiving bail again, he was detained for an additional night because no interpreter was available.
Court Verdict and Sentencing
On September 19, Singh pleaded not guilty to the sexual interference charge but guilty to criminal harassment. The presiding judge emphasized that Singh had no legitimate reason to be near the school. Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski stated, “This type of conduct will not be tolerated.”
Consequences and Deportation
Singh, who had a scheduled return flight to India on December 30, was ordered to leave Canada immediately. The court also imposed a three-year probation, which includes several restrictions:
- He is banned from contacting either victim.
- He cannot be within 100 meters of any school, pool, playground, or community center.
- He is prohibited from engaging with anyone under 16, except for his grandchild.
This incident highlights the serious consequences of harassment and the judicial system’s commitment to protecting minors in educational environments. El-Balad will continue to follow such cases closely.
