Chinese fugitive released by immigration board
CBSA says Lai Changxing could escape with help of criminal connections
One of China's most wanted fugitives has been granted release by Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board, one day before his deportation hearing.
Lai Changxing was being held in custody while he awaits a deportation hearing on Thursday.
But on Wednesday IRB adjudicator Geoff Rempel ruled that Lai can safely be released on terms and conditions because the probability he will flee is low.
He was expected to be released later Wednesday after the terms of his release were set.
Lawyers for the Canada Border Services Agency filed for a judicial review of the decision asking for it to be stayed, but the federal court declined to overturn the ruling.
Lai has been fighting his deportation to China for more than a decade after fleeing to Canada in 1999 to escape corruption charges.
Chinese officials accuse Lai of running a huge smuggling ring that cheated the government there out of millions of dollars in taxes.
Canada Border Services wanted Lai held in detention until his hearing on Thursday, saying he is a flight risk.
On Monday a detective with the Vancouver police testified at the hearing alleging that before Lai was recently detained, he was involved in loan-sharking and illegal gambling in Richmond and was on friendly terms with local members of Asian organized criminal networks.
His lawyers are expected to ask for a stay of his deportation on Thursday because Lai faces possible torture or even execution at the hands of China's Communist regime if he is deported back to that country.