Suspect in Moncton human trafficking case faces 14 new charges

Saphira Bastien, 19, appeared in court Tuesday in Moncton County, having been in custody since April when she was first arrested and charged with human trafficking.

He was originally facing four charges, including two counts of exercising control over the movements of a person under 18 with the purpose of facilitating exploitation. He has since been charged with 14 more.

The new charges include three counts of recruiting a person to provide sexual services, two counts of material benefit from trafficking a person under the age of 18, and two counts of sexual abuse.

The preliminary investigation into the case was due to begin on Tuesday, but prosecutor Marc-André Desjardins demanded an immediate charge, which would have brought the case straight to court.

Bastien’s lawyer, Daniel Gallant, was not present Tuesday morning and Bastien said she was “not aware” of the progress of her case.

Eventually, Gallant was reached by phone and Bastien opted for her trial to take place before a judge and jury.

Two people were reported missing in Ontario

The RCMP previously reported that Bastien was charged after three people were rescued as part of a human trafficking investigation.

Police said officers were called to check on a young woman on Ward Street in Moncton on April 12, who had been reported missing in Ontario.

“Investigation later revealed that she had been brought to the area and was a victim of human trafficking,” the RCMP statement said at the time.

On April 16, according to the RCMP, officers were called to a home in Dieppe where another young woman, who had also gone missing in Ontario, was found. Police said she was also believed to be a victim of human trafficking.

An adult from Quebec, who police also described as a victim of human trafficking, was also found at the Dieppe location.

Bastien was arrested on Gauvin Road on April 16 and charged the following day.

Judge Claude Haché has scheduled Bastien’s next court appearance for October 7 at 9:30 a.m., when she will appear before the Court of King’s Bench and a trial date will be set.

In the meantime, she is not allowed to talk to eight different people and remains in detention.