Man sentenced in northern Ont. child abduction case

A Sault Ste. Marie judge sentenced Manoj Govindbalunikam to 18 months for luring a child with ice cream and a fidget spinner in Thessalon in 2023.

A southern Ontario man has been sentenced for abducting a child almost three years ago in northern Ontario.

Manoj Govindbalunikam, the man who admitted to abducting a child in Thessalon in 2023, has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars.

Justice Michael Varpio handed down the decision April 21 at the Sault Courthouse.

Varpio said the sentence was to send a clear message to both the 37-year-old perpetrator and society as a whole, with a focus on denunciation and deterrence.

Claimed cultural misunderstanding

The defence for the former Brampton, Ont., Realtor had argued previously that the situation was a cultural misunderstanding, adding that an extended sentence could impact Govindbalunikam’s ability to stay in Canada.

Varpio rejected both arguments, saying that the accused has been in Canada for 12 years and is educated enough to know Canadian cultural norms.

The judge made clear that Govindbalunikam’s risk of deportation was not a factor in his decision.

The boy was fishing by himself at the river when the man approached, saying he was a real estate agent looking for property in the area.

He lured the boy into his car using promises of ice cream and a fidget spinner, which the Crown argued was grooming.

The child was not physically harmed in the case and was rescued by his father, who contacted police.

However, Varpio said he was not presented with any evidence suggesting there was a sexual intent as part of the abduction.

In addition to the 18-month prison sentence, Govindbalunikam will be on probation for three years following his release.

He also has a non-contact order with the victim, a DNA order, a weapons prohibition and must undertake counselling.