Woman forced to work as escort to 'pay back her debts,' police say
Charges laid after survivor speaks out about coercive relationship
A woman is facing several charges after allegedly forcing another woman to work as an escort over the past year, police say.
The investigation started early last month after a woman in her 20s came forward about a coercive relationship, saying she had been groomed by the woman, 34, and provided gifts, including clothing, jewelry and drugs, Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Dani McKinnon said at a news conference Friday morning.
From September 2023 to last month, the woman then allegedly insisted the survivor "pay back her debts" for those gifts by working as an escort, McKinnon said.
The woman allegedly set up meetings using online advertisements, arranging for the survivor to provide sexual services for money, then took all the money that was received, McKinnon said.
The woman was detained in custody after being charged on Monday with procuring a person to provide sexual services, material benefit from sexual services, trafficking in persons and failing to comply with a probation order.
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