A man facing the first-ever charge of human trafficking laid in the NWT has been granted bail. Jonathan Ouellet-Gendron, 29, was freed from custody at the North Slave Correctional Centre by Justice of the Peace (JP) Ian McCrea Thursday. There is a ban on publishing the reasons McCrea gave for granting his release.
Ouellet-Gendron was charged with human trafficking as well as possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking after an RCMP investigation that began late last month.
The Mounties are alleging that Ouellet-Gendron brought a woman to Yellowknife against her will and was forcing her to work as a prostitute.
Ouellet-Gendron, originally from the Montreal area, has been ordered to live with his mother near Montreal while he awaits trial.
She posted $3,000 to have him freed and agreed to act as his bail surety.
Ouellet-Gendron, who has only an impaired driving charge on his criminal record, must now show RCMP in Yellowknife proof of his airplane ticket to Montreal as well an an open-ended return ticket to show he is prepared to come back for his trial.
He is not allowed to return to the NWT until his trial.
No trial date has yet been set.
A conviction for human trafficking comes with a minimum sentence of four years in prison.