The small town of Thessalon, Ontario, a quiet stop along the Trans-Canada Highway, became the epicenter of a chilling event in August 2023. A nine-year-old boy’s life was irrevocably altered when Manoj Govindbalunikam, a 37-year-old man, abducted him.
Nearly two years later, in May 2025, Govindbalunikam admitted guilt to the abduction. While facing a potential ten-year sentence, a disturbing element entered the legal proceedings – a focus on avoiding his deportation from Canada.
Govindbalunikam’s lawyer proposed a conditional discharge and three years of probation, highlighting his two days in custody and 805 days of adhering to release conditions. The core argument, however, revolved around the length of any potential prison sentence.
A sentence exceeding six months would trigger an automatic deportation order for Govindbalunikam, a permanent resident in Canada since 2013. The defense strategically requested a sentence just shy of that threshold, allowing for a potential appeal of the deportation.
This case isn’t isolated. A troubling pattern is emerging within the Canadian justice system, where immigration status appears to be influencing sentencing decisions in deeply concerning ways.
Consider the case of Akashkumar Khant, who attempted to purchase sex from a 15-year-old girl – an undercover police officer. The judge expressed concern that a conviction would jeopardize Khant’s immigration prospects and ability to sponsor his wife.
Similarly, Aswin Sajeevan, who secretly recorded his female housemates in the bathroom over six months, received a reduced sentence of 5 1/2 months. The judge explicitly acknowledged that a longer sentence would render Sajeevan deportable due to “serious criminality.”
Returning to the Thessalon case, the focus on Govindbalunikam’s immigration status feels profoundly misplaced, given the severity of his crime. This wasn’t a minor infraction; it was the abduction of a child.
The impact on the now 12-year-old victim is devastating. Testimony revealed a boy whose innocence and trust have been shattered, plagued by nightmares, panic attacks, and taunts from classmates. He now experiences intense fear whenever he sees a vehicle similar to the one used during his abduction.
Disturbingly, the court was shown photographs taken by Govindbalunikam of himself with the boy, a chilling reminder of the trauma inflicted. The victim’s father, overcome with emotion, directly confronted Govindbalunikam with raw, unfiltered anger.
The sentencing is scheduled for November 19th, and a grim expectation hangs in the air – that efforts to deport Govindbalunikam will likely be unsuccessful, perpetuating a system that appears to prioritize immigration status over the well-being of its citizens and the gravity of criminal acts.
