(CNN) -- A Hong Kong man who brought a Filipino maid with his family when they moved to Vancouver -- but then made her work 16 hours a day for 21 months and allowed her one phone-call a month -- has been convicted of human trafficking in a landmark verdict. In the first conviction for human trafficking in Canada, a British Columbia Supreme Court found 50-year-old father of three, Franco Orr Yiu-kwan, guilty of illegally employing a foreign national and immigration breaches. His partner, Nicole Huen Oi-ling, was acquitted of the charges. "My clients are in shock frankly," defense lawyer Nicholas Preovolos, told CNN affiliate CBC News. "They're stunned. It's an odd verdict, in that the jury apparently believed a number of allegations that Ms. Sarmiento made against Mr. Orr, but didn't believe the allegations she made against Ms. Huen."
@highlight
Hong Kong man convicted of human trafficking in landmark case in Vancouver
@highlight
Franco Orr Yiu-kwan charged over Filipino maid he brought from Hong Kong
@highlight
Court was told how the maid worked 16 hours a day for 21 months without a holiday
@highlight
The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $1 million fine
Things came to a head in June 2010 when @placeholder called the police after getting into a confrontation with Huen.