Indian Visitor Convicted of Harassing Teens in Canada; Faces Deportation

A 51-year-old Indian national visiting Canada on a temporary visa has been convicted of criminally harassing two teenage girls outside a high school in Sarnia, leading to his imminent deportation and a ban on re-entry, The Winnipeg Sun reported.

The man, identified as Jagjit Singh, had been staying in the Sarnia region to visit his newborn grandchild. According to the report, Singh received a brief jail sentence after the court ruled that his conduct near the local high school was unacceptable.

“You had no business attending the property of that high school,”
Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski said while delivering the judgement.
“This type of conduct will not be tolerated.”

Singh had arrived in Canada in July on a six-month temporary resident visa.

Repeated Approaches Toward Teen Girls

Between September 8 and 11, Singh repeatedly positioned himself in the smoking area outside a Sarnia high school, where he attempted to interact with teenage girls and persistently tried to take photographs with them.

One of the girls initially refused a photo but later consented to avoid prolonged interaction. Instead of leaving, Singh entered their personal space, sat between two girls, and gestured for another photograph. After the picture was taken, he placed his arm around one of the teens, who immediately stood up and pushed him away, feeling deeply uncomfortable.

Arrest, Charges, and Court Proceedings

Singh, who does not speak English, was arrested on September 16 and initially charged with sexual interference and sexual assault. He was granted bail, but was re-arrested when a second complaint from the same date surfaced. Due to interpreter unavailability, he spent an additional night in custody during the second bail process.

At his recent court appearance, Singh—speaking through an interpreter and represented by counsel—pleaded not guilty to sexual interference but guilty to the lesser charge of criminal harassment. Officers from the Canada Border Services Agency were present in court and prepared to take him into custody immediately following the proceedings.

Although Singh had originally booked a December 30 return flight to India, he sought an earlier departure in light of the case.

Impact on Victims

Victim impact statements from both teenagers were read in court. One girl said the incident had severely affected her emotional well-being, leaving her fearful and uneasy around older men, particularly those of Singh’s ethnicity.

The second teen reported ongoing mental health impacts, noting that she feels increasingly uncomfortable in public spaces since the encounter.

Probation Conditions and Deportation

Under a three-year probation order, Singh is prohibited from contacting the girls, approaching any locations associated with them, or being near any individual under 16, except his newborn grandchild.

Following the court ruling, Singh will be deported to India and barred from returning to Canada.