The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Kingston Police have laid an additional 19 charges against a suspect already in custody in an ongoing investigation involving human trafficking. Police are seeking additional victims.
In January 2022, the joint investigation (Project Shamrock) began when Kingston Police were made aware of an individual luring women and girls through social media platforms for the purpose of exploitation. A thorough investigation was conducted by the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS) from the OPP Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Kingston Police, Ottawa Police Service, Peterborough Police Service and the OPP Digital Forensics.
Initially, 10 victims were identified and provided with aid through a victim services agency and are now in a place of safety. The accused was arrested on April 6, 2022, and, due to continued police investigation and increased public awareness from a previous media release, additional victims were identified which resulted in further charges being laid. The investigation was supported by Kingston Victim Services and the OPP IJFS Victim Specialist of the OPP Victim-Centred Approach Team.
As part of this ongoing investigation, Michael Mark Haaima, a 38-year-old male resident of Kingston, was charged with 95 offences contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada as follows:
- Sexual assault, sec. 271(1) – 20 counts;
- Unlawfully access child pornography, sec. 163.1 (4.1) – seven counts;
- Obtaining sexual services for consideration, sec. 286.1 (1) – six counts;
- Forcible confinement, sec. 279 (2) – seven counts;
- Assault, sec. 266 – three counts;
- Harassment by watching and besetting, sec. 264 (2)(c);
- Overcome resistance to offence/attempt to choke, sec. 246 (a) – four counts;
- Criminal harassment by communication, sec. 264 (2)(b);
- Sexual assault with choking, sec. 272 (1)(c.1) – five counts;
- Uttering threats/death or bodily harm, sec. 264.1 (1)(a) – four counts;
- Uttering threats/death or bodily harm animal, sec. 264.1 (1)(c);
- Compulsions to commit bestiality, sec. 160 (2);
- Mischief under $5000, sec. 430 (4);
- Invitation to sexual touching, sec. 152 – three counts;
- Sexual interference, sec. 151; – three counts;
- Procuring/person under 18 years, sec. 286.3 (2);
- Trafficking of a person under 18 years, sec. 279.011 (1);
- Obtaining sexual services for consideration under 18, sec. 286.1 (2) – three counts;
- Sexual assault with a weapon, sec. 272 (1)(a);
- Sexual assault cause bodily harm, sec. 272 (1)(c);
- Sexual assault cause bodily harm, sec 272 (2)(b) – two counts;
- Luring for making child pornography sec. 172.1 (1)(b) – two counts;
- Aggravated sexual assault, sec. 273 (2)(b) – two counts;
- Make child pornography, sec. 163.1 (2) – two counts;
- Make available child pornography, sec. 163.1(3);
- Possess child pornography, sec. 163.1 (4) – four counts;
- Access child pornography, sec. 423(1)(b);
- Extortion, sec. 346 (1.1)(b);
- Assault with a weapon, sec. 267 (a);
- Assault with a weapon cause bodily harm, sec 267 (b);
- Assault with a weapon choke, sec 267 (c);
- Voyeurism, sec. 162 (1) – two counts; and,
- Disobey lawful order (non-communication), sec. 127.
The accused is being held in custody. Police want to hear from any other potential victims and are urging anyone with any additional information to contact the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police. If you or someone you know may be a victim of these crimes, call 9-1-1 immediately.
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-833-900-1010