Vancouver (Ecns.cn) — One of China's most wanted fugitives is likely to face deportation from Canada as he lost his appeal on Thursday.
Lai Changxing, a high-profile Chinese fugitive whose legal odyssey in Canada lasted longer than a decade, is accused of masterminding the country's largest smuggling ring. He went to Canada in 1999. China has been seeking his return to face charges of smuggling, bribery, and tax evasion since then.
Lai had asked Canada's Federal Court to reverse his deportation order. The court ruled against him late Thursday night.
When asked earlier in the day if his client had any legal options left if the Federal Court ruled against him, lawyer David Matas simply said: "No."
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu responded Friday that China welcomes the decision made by the Federal court.
"Lai was the prime suspect in the Yuanghua Group's smuggling scheme, and China's stand on Lai's deportation has been consistent," Ma said.
Lai was arrested and ordered deported earlier this month after Immigration Canada ruled he was not at risk of being tortured if sent back. The agency made that determination after four years of deliberation, and just days before the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, headed to China to bolster ties between the two countries.
Lai, a native of Fujian, is accused of running a criminal ring that, in collaboration with corrupt government officials, conducted the biggest smuggling operation uncovered in China since 1949. He, with his wife and their three children fled to Canada from Hong Kong in 1999 to seek asylum and escape prosecution.
Lai has been held in custody since his July 7 arrest. He had been scheduled for a flight back to China, but won an interim stay of deportation until the Federal Court could hear his case.
The Canada Border Services Agency said earlier that if Mr. Lai's legal efforts were unsuccessful, he would be deported July 25. But a government lawyer said it was possible Mr. Lai would be sent back as early as Saturday.
China has said repeatedly that the Lai case was the country's biggest scandal. Exhibitions and television shows have detailed his alleged crimes and excesses.
During a state visit to Canada by Chinese President Hu Jintao in June 2010, the two sides signed a memorandum to work together against crime.
