Canadian police files affidavit against Chinese fugitive
( 2002-06-26 11:38 ) (8 )

The Royal Canadian MountedPolice (RCMP) filed an affidavit on Tuesday against Chinese fugitive Lai Changxing, saying that he has tried to use a false passport since he arrived in Canada to claim refugee status.

Criminal charges involving money laundering and possession of proceedings of crime could be filed soon in Canada against Lai andhis wife Tsang Mingna, a report by the Canadian Press (CP) from Vancouver quoted immigration lawyers as saying.

The affidavit was filed by RCMP Sgt. Sandro Colasacco at the hearing on behalf of the proceeds of crime unit.

In his affidavit, however, Colasacco said that he was unable to confirm whether Lai, who was once the owner of a private company in China, has been successful in obtaining fraudulent documents.

The lawsuit could result in a deportation of the couple who are wanted in his home country as they are accused of a massive multi-billion-dollar smuggling and committing other crimes.

But immigration lawyer Daniel Tucci was quoted by the CP report as saying that information contained in the RCMP investigation shows that the Lai couple are a flight risk and are unlikely to appear for removal from the country.

Lai and his wife have been under investigation by the RCMP since Novermber 2000 when they were first arrested in Canada. Thecouple's activities generated significant proceeds of crime that were sent to the pair while they were in Canada, according to the RCMP affidavit.

The couple used an underground banking system known as Hawala to carry out the operation and had access to the funds using intermediaries who transferred the funds to Canada.

The RCMP investigation also revealed that Lai established a number of relationships with people in Canada who opened accounts on his behalf, Tucci added.