Canadian Immigration waves goodbye to wife of Chinese fugitive

August 07 2009 by Matt Jones

Mr Lai granted work permit

Lai Changxing, China’s 'most wanted' fugitive and who is currently in exile in Canada, recently got divorced, allowing his wife and daughter to return home to China and escape the risk of execution.

Mr Lai, a former Chinese entrepreneur, is connected with tax fraud and a $10 billion dollar smuggling scandal. He admits to the fraud but says the prospect of execution is unfair.

He says: “It is true that I [committed] tax evasion, but tax evasion should be punished by fines, or some time in prison.”

He managed to make the move to Canada where his deportation was blocked by the courts that deal with Canadian immigration. They refused to accept the word of the Chinese government that he will not be executed or mistreated.

14 others involved in the scam have been executed in China; a country that executes more people each year than all other nations combined.

Mr Lai says: “As a businessman, I just wanted to earn more money. I took advantage of the holes in Chinese customs.”

“I have a working permit, which is extended once a year. I'm very contented ... If the judge says there is no risk in sending me back, I will appeal. I will keep this case going without stop.”

Mr Lai’s wife has been in exile for ten years in Canada with her husband, but following their recent divorce has been allowed to return to China along with their 23-year old daughter.

Mr Lai’s lawyer David Mates said: “The wife got divorced and China lost interest in her because she's no longer useful as leverage versus Mr. Lai. Which just shows what a fabrication this whole thing is.”

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