Canadian court decides to extradite China's most-wanted fugitive

2011-07-22 11:16:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

TORONTO (BNO NEWS) -- A Canadian court on late Thursday decided to extradite Lai Changxing, one of China's most wanted fugitives for smuggling and corruption. The decision was welcomed by China.

Lai had previously entered an application to request an order to stay the execution of a deportation order which had been issued against him. The suspect had alleged that he would be executed or tortured in China if he were to be deported.

But the court received Chinese government assurances that Lai would not face execution or torture if he is returned to the Asian country. China also promised to give Lai a fair trial with access to a lawyer.

"To put it as plainly as possible, if [China] [renege] on the deal it will make it much more difficult for China to persuade other countries that it is safe to repatriate alleged fugitives back to China for trial," Canadian federal government lawyer Jan Brongers said, as cited by CBC Television. The court agreed and said China's rare assurance was sufficient.

In response to the ruling, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu reiterated that Lai is a most wanted fugitive. "The position of the Chinese government to return Lai Changxing to stand trial is clear. We welcome the court's decision in Canada," he said.

Lai arrived in Canada in 1999 on a tourist visa to escape corruption and smuggling charges in China. Since then, he has fought his deportation in one of the country's longest extradition cases.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-22

Looks like Canada is the safe haven for criminals....or so they thought.

Last year it was Saxena, one of the longest extradition battles in Canadian history. This year Lai one of the longest extradition battles in Canadian history.

Ride's over.