A British Columbia businesswoman accused of luring a young Tanzanian woman to Canada and forcing her to work as a virtual domestic slave in her multi-million-dollar West Vancouver mansion has been found not guilty of human trafficking.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon said in announcing her decision Friday that the testimony of Mumtaz Ladha’s accuser was simply not credible.

“I wish to emphasize that this is not a case in which I am left with only a reasonable doubt about whether the offences occurred,” Justice Fenlon said.

“I am left, rather, with the conviction that the allegations made by (the complainant) are improbable. On the evidence before me, it appears far more likely that the complainant took advantage of Mr. Ladha’s generosity in order to come to Canada and then took advantage of an opportunity she saw to remain in this country, showing a callous disregard for her benefactor and the truth in the process.”

The verdict brought to a close a process that began more than four years ago when the complainant went to police. Richard Peck Q.C., Eric Gottardi, and Tony Paisana made up Mrs. Ladha’s legal team.

Awarded personally by the CBABC president each year, this medal honours an outstanding lawyer who has been recognized for one or more of the following: legal academic proficiency, works of legal scholarship, significant contribution to the profession, or noteworthy contribution to Canadian public life. This year, the CBABC President’s Medal was awarded to Eric Gottardi. To read more, click here.

The August 2010 issue of Canadian Lawyer Magazine has named Peck and Company senior partner Richard C.C. Peck, Q.C., as one of Canada’s most influential lawyers. To view the article, please click here.