Manoj Govindbalunikam, a 37-year-old real estate agent, was living a pretty normal life in Canada. Or so it seemed. This past April, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for abducting a 9-year-old boy in Ontario. But what's really surprising is the reason he gave for his actions.

Govindbalunikam claimed that luring the child into his car was "acceptable in my culture." His lawyer argued that the practice of offering food and gifts was normal where he came from. The lawyer even went so far as to say that giving the child ice cream and toys was just a kind gesture. But Canadian authorities didn't buy it.

The court rejected Govindbalunikam's excuse, saying that he had lived in Canada long enough to understand local norms and culture. The judge pointed out that it's not okay to offer gifts or food to minors and that Govindbalunikam's actions were not an innocent mistake.

So, what exactly happened? According to the court, Govindbalunikam lured the boy into his car using a fidget spinner, then gave him his business card and convinced him to leave his bike and fishing gear at a curling club. He then took the boy to a tavern, bought him ice cream, and even took photos of them together. Witnesses recognized the child but not Govindbalunikam, so they called the police.

The boy's father eventually spotted his son in the front seat of the car and confronted Govindbalunikam, who then gave him his business card. Govindbalunikam was arrested the next day, and a search of his phone revealed photos of the child eating ice cream in the car and another image of the kid taken by a river.

Now, Govindbalunikam faces deportation proceedings as a result of his conviction. His lawyer claimed that the allegations against him were motivated by racism, but the court didn't agree.