Three Calgary restaurant owners were sentenced to jail for defrauding temporary foreign workers of $44,000 through false immigration fees and substandard living conditions
Calgary Restaurant Owners Sentenced for Financial Abuse of Employees
Three restaurant owners were sentenced this week by a Calgary judge for financially abusing their immigrant employees. The offenders are Manikandan Kasinathan, Chandramohan Marjak, and Mary Roche.
Each was given a 90-day jail term to be served on weekends after being convicted of fraud over $5,000. They co-owned Marina Dosa and Tandoori Grill in Calgary.
In addition to jail time, Kasinathan, Marjak, and Roche will serve 18 months of probation and must repay $44,000 to three employees.
Details of the Case
The trial began in the summer of 2024 and concluded in May 2025 with Justice Sandra Mah’s conviction decision. The victims, all from India, came to Calgary between 2017 and 2020 as temporary foreign workers with employer-specific permits to work as cooks.
Upon arrival, the victims were told they needed to pay $24,000 each for a Labour Market Impact Assessment for immigration fees. However, employers were only required to pay a $1,000 processing fee under the temporary foreign workers program.
Prosecutor Brandy O’Ferrall presented evidence showing that the victims were threatened with being sent back to India if they did not pay the money.
Victims’ Experiences
One victim, Parthiban Ramalingam, paid the full $24,000, while the other two paid $12,000 and $8,000. On paydays, Kasinathan drove Ramalingam to the bank to deposit his paycheck. Ramalingam reported giving Kasinathan $2,000 in cash for the Labour Market Impact Assessment and $400 for rent.
Ramalingam worked six days a week for 12 to 14 hours daily to pay off the $24,000. The victims also lived in the offenders’ homes, paying rent for substandard accommodations.
Judge Mah noted that the victims faced verbal and physical abuse from the accused. One victim, Venkatesan Durairaj, testified that he felt like a slave in this situation.
The victims eventually reported the abuse to authorities. None of the accused testified in their defense. Their lawyers claimed that any money paid was for expenses like rent and travel, not for the Labour Market Impact Assessment.
Judge Mah rejected the defense arguments presented by lawyers Faizan Butt and Sofian Butt.
Summary of Sentences
| Offender | Jail Term | Probation | Repayment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manikandan Kasinathan | 90 days (weekends) | 18 months | $44,000 |
| Chandramohan Marjak | 90 days (weekends) | 18 months | $44,000 |
| Mary Roche | 90 days (weekends) | 18 months | $44,000 |
