Police charge mother over abduction story

BRANDON, MAN. Police have arrested a woman for allegedly making up a story that she had been held captive for years in Winnipeg where she was forced into the sex trade and gave birth to a child.

Brandon police said the woman and her seven- year- old daughter arrived in the city in August and sought help from social workers.

Police said the woman told staff her tale, including details of an escape, and officers became involved.

Sgt. Kevin McLean said social workers believed most of the woman’s story and police worked to verify it.

“When we actually started the investigation, there were a few holes. ... Turns out the story was totally fabricated.”

He told the CBC, “This female came to Brandon and made allegations regarding human trafficking involving herself and her daughter.

“These allegations have been proven false and in fact she is fleeing Ontario with her daughter and it’s something to do with a custody order out of Ontario.”

He said investigators had checked the identities of the woman and girl by reaching out to other police forces and social service agencies across Canada. When officers came up with nothing, they publicly released a photo of the pair.

McLean said a tip came in Thursday that the woman went by another name. Police then learned that she was from Toronto and had allegedly been involved in a custody dispute when she left the province with her daughter.

McLean said efforts are being made to reunite the girl with her father.

Zada Jaffe, 37, is in custody and has been charged with public mischief.

Earlier, police said the woman appeared to be very co- operative.

“It’s not an issue of them not being forthright. It’s an issue of them not really having any identification with them. It’s not as if they are refusing to give us information. They ’r e co- operating totally,” McLean said before the woman was charged.