Federal Court stays deportation of China's most wanted man

A Federal Court judge in Ottawa has stayed the deportation of Lai Changxing, China's most wanted man who is accused of bribing Chinese officials and smuggling $10 billion worth of goods.

Justice Carolyn Layden-Stevenson said Lai should be allowed to remain in Canada while he launches further appeals to the federal deportation order — a process likely to take many months or longer.

His lawyer has said he will appeal the deportation to the United Nations if necessary.

Lai, a billionaire who has been living in Vancouver andfighting the deportation order for years,claims he would be killed if he was deported back to China.

He maintains he is just a fall guy in China's crackdown on corruption, but Canada's Immigration Department has ruled he is a fugitive andnot a refugee. China said he is guilty of tax evasion and bribery.

Chinese officialssay Lai'scompany was a front for a $10-billion smuggling operation. His headquarters, the government alleges, was a pleasure palace where prostitutes entertained government officials.

One top customs officer, and even Lai's own brother, testified against him. But his lawyer says their statements were obtained under threat of torture.

Canada has received diplomatic assurances that Lai will be spared execution. But former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has said Lai ought to be executed.

Fourteen people have already been sentenced to death in the smuggling scandal and Lai is convinced he will be killed in prison if Canada deports him.