Exploitation Exposed: Calgary Restaurant Owners Jailed for Abusing Immigrant Workers
In a shocking case that highlights the dark side of labor exploitation, three Calgary restaurant owners have been sentenced to jail for financially abusing their immigrant employees. But here’s where it gets even more disturbing: the victims were not only defrauded out of thousands of dollars but were also subjected to substandard living conditions and threats of deportation. This story serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by temporary foreign workers in Canada.
Manikandan Kasinathan, Chandramohan Marjak, and Mary Roche, the co-owners of Marina Dosa and Tandoori Grill, were each handed 90-day jail terms—to be served on weekends—after being convicted of fraud exceeding $5,000. Additionally, they must repay the $44,000 they unlawfully took from three employees. The sentences, delivered by Justice Sandra Mah, follow a lengthy trial that began in the summer of 2024 and concluded in May 2025.
The Scheme Unveiled
The victims, all from India, had moved to Calgary between 2017 and 2020 as temporary foreign workers, employed as cooks at the restaurant. Upon arrival, they were falsely told they had to pay $24,000 each for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), supposedly to cover government fees related to their immigration. In reality, under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, employers are responsible for a $1,000 processing fee for the LMIA, not the employees. Prosecutor Brandy O’Ferrall presented evidence that the victims were threatened with deportation if they refused to pay.
A Year of Backbreaking Labor
One victim, Parthiban Ramalingam, paid the full $24,000, while the other two paid $12,000 and $8,000, respectively. Ramalingam’s ordeal included being driven to the bank by Kasinathan on paydays to deposit his paycheck, only to hand over $2,000 for the fraudulent LMIA fee and $400 for rent. He then worked grueling 12 to 14-hour days, six days a week, for nearly a year to repay the debt. And this is the part most people miss: the victims were also forced to live in the homes of their employers, paying rent for what the judge described as “substandard” conditions. One employee even shared a bedroom with two others.
Abuse Beyond Finances
The exploitation didn’t stop at financial fraud. Justice Mah found that the victims were subjected to verbal and physical abuse. Venkatesan Durairaj, one of the victims, testified that despite working in multiple countries, he had never felt as degraded as he did in this situation, stating, “This was the first place I felt like a slave and felt abused.”
The Defense Falls Flat
The accused did not testify in their defense. Their lawyers, Faizan Butt and Sofian Butt, argued that their clients neither requested nor received money for the LMIA, claiming any payments were for expenses like rent, food, or travel. However, Justice Mah rejected this defense, finding the evidence of fraud and abuse overwhelming.
A Call for Reflection
This case raises critical questions about the protections in place for temporary foreign workers in Canada. Are employers being held accountable for exploiting vulnerable workers? And what more can be done to prevent such abuses? While the jail sentences and restitution orders are a step toward justice, they also underscore the need for systemic changes to protect those who come to Canada seeking a better life.
What do you think? Is enough being done to safeguard temporary foreign workers from exploitation? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s keep this important conversation going.
