Donald Bakker
Encyclopedia
Donald Michel Bakker is a Canadian from Penticton who made headlines when he was the first person to be tried in Canada for child prostitution crimes committed in another country. Bakker was charged under the sex tourism
law which is used to punish those who use child prostitutes while outside Canada.
In 2004, he pleaded not guilty, claiming that Canada has no right to police people while they are outside its jurisdiction. Much of the evidence
against him was videotapes that Bakker himself made. Some of these videos show Bakker torturing
Vancouver area prostitutes with metal clips and electric cords. Other videos show him having sex with girls in Cambodia
, the oldest of whom was 12.
On June 1, 2005, he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual assault
to avoid a trial. The Solicitor
and Crown prosecutor
jointly asked for a 10-year prison sentence. Bakker had already served 18 months, which would count as double time, meaning he will have seven more years in prison. He is eligible for parole
within one and a half years.
Sex tourism
Sex tourism is travel to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes.The World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, defines sex tourism as "trips organized from within the tourism sector, or from outside this sector but using its structures and networks, with the primary...
law which is used to punish those who use child prostitutes while outside Canada.
In 2004, he pleaded not guilty, claiming that Canada has no right to police people while they are outside its jurisdiction. Much of the evidence
Evidence
Evidence in its broadest sense includes everything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion. Giving or procuring evidence is the process of using those things that are either presumed to be true, or were themselves proven via evidence, to demonstrate an assertion's truth...
against him was videotapes that Bakker himself made. Some of these videos show Bakker torturing
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
Vancouver area prostitutes with metal clips and electric cords. Other videos show him having sex with girls in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, the oldest of whom was 12.
On June 1, 2005, he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
to avoid a trial. The Solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and Crown prosecutor
Crown Prosecutor
Crown Prosecutors are the public prosecutors in the legal system of Australia.Crown Prosecutors represent the Crown in right of the Commonwealth and in right of each State or Territory in criminal proceedings. Crown Prosecutors are appointed not elected and not public servants; they are private...
jointly asked for a 10-year prison sentence. Bakker had already served 18 months, which would count as double time, meaning he will have seven more years in prison. He is eligible for parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
within one and a half years.
External links
- CBC.ca – Canada's sex tourism law faces first test
- CBC.ca – Vancouver man pleads guilty to overseas sex charges
- CanadianChristianity.com – Alleged attacker a World Vision child sponsor
- Members.shaw.ca – Neighbours shocked by alleged crimes
- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8998702/ Dateline story that involves Donald Bakker