"Temporary foreign workers claim sexual abuse at Ashcroft farm,"

Three temporary workers from South American claim they were sexually abused and exploited while working on an Ashcroft farm.

The Guatemalan workers took their complaint to the BC Human Rights Tribunal, which then had to decide whether to continue the complaint process before their alleged assailant is criminally charged.

Prosecutors haven't charged anyone yet, but the tribunal named Desert Hills Ranch farm manager and co-owner David Porter as the alleged abuser.

The workers said in the tribunal decision Porter "sexually abused them, exploited them and humiliated them in their employment."

Porter denied the claims...

He tried to have the human rights hearings delayed until criminal proceedings are concluded entirely arguing it would be more efficient for the tribunal, but failed.

The tribunal will hear the three complaints together and won't identify the farm workers.

The tribunal said it would protect the identities of victims to spare them from widespread publication. It also noted the workers feared publishing their names would put them at risk for future employment in Canada...