Winnipeg spa owner charged with extortion out on bail

The owner of a Winnipeg spacharged with extortion andhuman trafficking has been released on bail.

Simple Mehta, 39,wept in court Fridayas the Crown laid out details of her charges.

Bail conditions prohibitthe owner ofSimiMagic Spa, locatedon St.Anne'sroad, from visiting her spa, working as an esthetician or massage therapist and contacting alleged victims.

The court also forced Mehta to turn over her passport and barred her from using a cellphone, computer and other electronic devices.

Mehta and her employeePam Sandhu, 22, wereboth charged with extortion earlier this week after a man came forward and alleged he had been sexually assaulted, videotaped and subsequently threatened withthe footage.

• Man sexually assaulted during spa massage then blackmailed, police say
• Spa owner faces human trafficking charges in addition to extortion

Mehtahas also been charged withprocuring and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, while Sandhu has been charged withvoyeurism, sexual assault and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Police saida 29-year-old man, who was in a business relationship withMehta, went to the spa on a business matter and was offered a massage by an employee while he waited forMehta. After preparing for the massage he was sexually assaulted and recorded with a cellphone, police said.

Winnipeg spa owner charged with extortion out on bail

8 years ago

Duration 1:33

Simple Mehta and her employee Pam Sandhu, 22, were both charged with extortion earlier this week after a man came forward and alleged he had been sexually assaulted, videotaped and subsequently threatened with the footage.

He alleged that he had been threatened with the footage and coughed up "thousands" of dollars before reporting what happened to police.

On Friday, lawyers forMehtaand Sandhuargued separately that both clients deserved to be released onbail with several conditions.

Mehta has two sureties responsible for paying $20,000 each should she violate the bail conditions.

Meanwhile, Sandhuwas also released on bail Friday. Shefacessimilar restrictions to Mehta; she has to stay at home andcan't have any contact with Mehta or the victims.

Sandhuisn't allowed to attend Simi Magic Spa,must be home between 11 p.m. and 7 p.m. every day and must answer the door if a law enforcement officer comes by to do a curfew check, the court ruling stated.

She, too, was forced to hand her passport over and isn't allowed to use any electronic device capable of accessing the internet.

Sandhu has a $5,000 surety against her and had to put up $1,000 in cash to secure bail.

Mehta's next court hearing is scheduled forAug.2.