Editor’s Note: The Kyiv Post is a founding member of the New Europe News Network, along with other English-language newspapers. Members include the Krakow Post in Poland, The Budapest Times in Hungary, The Slovak Spectator in Bratislava, Slovakia, The Sofia Echo in Bulgaria and The Prague Post in the Czech Republic. Under an informal agreement, the newspapers share stories in print and online with other network members.
Szabolcs Szûcs writes:
Hungarian Roma had been treated as slaves by a Hungarian family in Hamilton, Ontario, and warrants alleging human trafficking had been issued against 10 members of the family by city authorities, Canadian newspapers reported.
The wanted suspects allegedly lured more than 16 people from Pápa to Canada with the promise of a better life and job opportunities.
On arrival they had been forced to work for free and their social benefits were taken. The suspects allegedly took the victims’ documents, locked them in a basement and fed them scraps of food. All the known victims are male.
It is the biggest trafficking offense uncovered in Canada and the accused may be the first to be convicted of such a crime in the country. Ferenc Dömötör, Ferenc Dömötör Jr., Gyöngyi Kolompár, Gizella Kolompár, Lajos Dömötör, Ferenc Kolompár, Gizella Dömötör, Attila Kolompár, Gyula Dömötör and Zsanett Kolompár are sought by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.Nine of them are accused of trafficking.
The case came to attention last December when one of the Roma managed to complain publicly about the way they were treated. Previously the victims were unable to turn to the authorities because they had been under heavy surveillance and did not speak English well.
Canada launched an investigation and after 10 months the arrest warrants were issued.
The charges faced by both the Ferenc Dömötörs include one that they taught the immigrants to deceive Canadian authorities.
Two other family members face the same charge. The head of the group is said to be Ferenc Dömötör Sr., described by Crown Attorney Sandra Antoniani as the leader of a Hungarian Roma crime group, consisting of relatives of various degrees. Ferenc Dömötör told a bail hearing that he denied the allegations and was being harassed by the Canadian police and authorities because of his Roma descent.
Most of the victims have returned to Hungary.
Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said organised criminals brought such people to Canada to steal their social benefits. He said many Hungarian citizens migrate to the country but of the 2,500 who sought asylum in Canada in 2009 only three had been successful.
The Oct. 18. story can be found here.
