Four charged with human trafficking make first court appearance
February 2, 2020, 7:57 am
Four Vancouver Island residents charged with several human trafficking related offences made their first court appearance in Swift Current on Friday.
Charged are Shermineh Sheri Ziaee and Shawn Alexander Kelly of Victoria B.C., and Seyed Kourosh Miralinaghi and Seyed Kamran Miralinaghi of Nanaimo, B.C.
Ziaee was also charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
All four were remanded into custody and will make their next court appearances by vidio link on February 5.
The four were arrested at Swift Current for human trafficking after a traffic stop.
In the afternoon of January 28, 2020, an off-duty RCMP officer spotted three vehicles driving at a high rate of speed east on Highway 1 towards Swift Current, SK.
The three vehicles appeared to be travelling together as they were driving in close proximity, in the same direction and at the same high rate of speed.
Swift Current RCMP officers were able to intercept them and all three vehicles were pulled over for driving at 153km/h as a group.
During the traffic stop, officers noted several violations of the Traffic Safety Act.
While speaking to the drivers and the passengers of the vehicles, officers became suspicious of the relationships between them and investigated further.
Two young female passengers were located in separate vehicles, each with tinted windows, sitting in the back seat with no ID.
These were some indicators of human trafficking related activity.
As a result, Swift Current RCMP arrested three adult males and one adult female for human trafficking related offences.
Shawn Alexander Kelly of Victoria, B.C. (DOB: 1996-12-04) is charged with the following:
1. Receive financial benefit, knowing it was obtainined from the commission of an offence, contrary to Sec. 279.02(2) of the Criminal Code;
2. Transport a person under the age of 18 for the purpose of exploiting them, contrary to Sec. 279.011 of the Criminal Code;
3. Procure a person to offer or provide sexual services, contrary to Sec. 286.01(1) of the Criminal Code;
4. Harboured a person who offers or provides sexual services for consideration, or exercised control or movement of that person, contrary to Sec. 286.3 of the Criminal Code; and
5. Knowlying advertise an offer to provide sexual services, contrary to Sec. 286.4 of the Criminal Code.
Seyed Kourosh Miralinaghi of Nanaimo, B.C., (DOB: 2000-10-24) is charged with the following:
1. Receive financial benefit, knowing it was obtainined from the commission of an offence, contrary to Sec. 279.02(2) of the Criminal Code;
2. Transport a person under the age of 18 for the purpose of exploiting them, contrary to Sec. 279.011 of the Criminal Code;
3. Procure a person to offer or provide sexual services, contrary to Sec. 286.01(1) of the Criminal Code;
4. Harboured a person who offers or provides sexual services for consideration, or exercised control or movement of that person, contrary to Sec. 286.3 of the Criminal Code; and
5. Knowlying advertise an offer to provide sexual services, contrary to Sec. 286.4 of the Criminal Code.
Seyed Kamran Miralinaghi of Nanaimo, B.C., (DOB: 2000-10-24) is charged with the following:
1. Receive financial benefit, knowing it was obtainined from the commission of an offence, contrary to Sec. 279.02(2) of the Criminal Code;
2. Transport a person under the age of 18 for the purpose of exploiting them, contrary to Sec. 279.011 of the Criminal Code;
3. Procure a person to offer or provide sexual services, contrary to Sec. 286.01(1) of the Criminal Code;
4. Harboured a person who offers or provides sexual services for consideration, or exercised control or movement of that person, contrary to Sec. 286.3 of the Criminal Code; and
5. Knowlying advertise an offer to provide sexual services, contrary to Sec. 286.4 of the Criminal Code.
Shermineh Sheri Ziaee of Victoria, B.C., (DOB: 1983-07-06) is charged with the following:
1. Receive financial benefit, knowing it was obtainined from the commission of an offence, contrary to Sec. 279.02(2) of the Criminal Code;
2. Transport a person under the age of 18 for the purpose of exploiting them, contrary to Sec. 279.011 of the Criminal Code;
3. Procure a person to offer or provide sexual services, contrary to Sec. 286.01(1) of the Criminal Code;
4. Harboured a person who offers or provides sexual services for consideration, or exercised control or movement of that person, contrary to Sec. 286.3 of the Criminal Code;
5. Knowlying advertise an offer to provide sexual services, contrary to Sec. 286.4 of the Criminal Code; and
6. Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, contrary to Sec. 88(2) of the Criminal Code.
The two young female passengers are from B.C. and are not related to any of the accused.
The investigation is ongoing.
