Written by Jenny Hagan, West Central Online

The complainant in the Rosetown human trafficking trial broke down in tears Wednesday as she pushed back against persistent questioning about why she didn’t do more to escape her alleged abuser, exclaiming, “I am not making things up!”

In an emotional afternoon of testimony, the woman revealed for the first time a series of disturbing allegations against the accused, Mohammed Masum, whom she claims manipulated, coerced and blackmailed her over a span of months.

Through tears, the complainant told the court that Masum had taken her passport under the pretense that it needed to be scanned, later telling her it had been left at his ex-wife’s house. She testified that she was later offered a disturbing ultimatum: provide sexual favours in exchange for the return of her passport and the chance to leave.

She said that believing this would allow her to regain her freedom, she went along with the alleged demand one evening after hours at the Little Town restaurant in Tisdale. The woman alleged Masum used his cellphone to disable security cameras before she “willingly engaged in a sexual act,” thinking it was the only way to escape.

Shortly after, she claims Masum showed her a cellphone video of the encounter—footage she had not known was being recorded. The complainant said Masum then returned her passport but threatened to release the video online and send it to her family if she ever left or spoke out.

“I was afraid every day,” she said. “But I needed to tell someone.”

She told the court she had kept this experience secret until now because of the alleged threats, saying she felt a mix of relief and fear in finally sharing it publicly.

Her revelations came after a morning of intense cross-examination in which the defence questioned inconsistencies in her earlier testimony, including details about multiple alleged sexual assaults. The defence pressed her on why she didn’t scream, why she didn’t flee, and why no forensic or physical evidence had been provided to corroborate her claims.

The woman, whose identity is protected under a publication ban, admitted that she had trouble recalling specific dates and details but insisted the abuse was real and ongoing. “It’s hard to remember everything when you’re just trying to survive,” she said.

The trial returns to Rosetown court on June 23rd where defense will have a chance to cross-examine the complainant on the new allegations.