An undated photo of Manoj Govindbalunikam.

A Brampton man has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars for his role in abducting a child.

Manoj Govindbalunikam, 37, received the sentence this week after pleading guilty to a 2023 incident in the small town of Thessalon, approximately 90 kilometres southeast of Sault Ste. Marie.

Justice Michael Varpio said he wanted to send a clear message with the sentence that this type of crime will not be tolerated.

Govindbalunikam, a Brampton realtor, was charged with abduction of a person under 14 after luring a young boy who was fishing near a river.

Police said at the time that a man driving a yellow 2011 Chevrolet Camaro offered the child a toy “as a way to entice him into the car” before driving off with the boy inside.

A Good Samaritan who knew the child witnessed the incident and contacted the boy’s parents, who then went looking for the vehicle and the missing child.

The parents and the witness located the vehicle and the boy a short time later. It was only after they managed to get the child out of the car that they contacted the OPP.

Police say the man took the boy out for ice cream and claimed he was a RE/MAX real estate agent looking for property in the area.

The defence argued that the case was a “cultural misunderstanding” and that Govindbalunikam could face deportation because of the length of the sentence.

However, Varpio said he was not concerned about Govindbalunikam’s status in Canada, noting that after living in the country for 12 years, he was familiar enough with Canadian laws to know his actions were unacceptable.

As part of the sentence, Govindbalunikam will be on probation for three years following his release and must submit his DNA for forensic analysis. The profile will be added to the National DNA Data Bank to assist law enforcement in solving crimes.

— with files from Ryan Rumbolt


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