CANADA. COURT DELAYS DEPORTATION OF CHINESE FUGITIVE LAI
June 1, 2006: Chinese fugitive Lai Changxing, the alleged kingpin of a multi-billion-dollar smuggling operation, will not be deported on June 2 as planned, Canada's Federal Court ruled.
"The deportation should be stayed," the court said in a statement.
Lai had been fighting to stay in Canada since fleeing China in 1999 and claiming refugee status in 2000. His lawyer, David Matas, had appealed to the Federal Court in a last-ditch effort to quash a deportation order, saying Lai would face persecution and certain death if he was sent home. Canadian law prevents the deportation of people to face trial in countries where they could be executed. (Sources: AFP, 01/06/2006)
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