Lai Changxing, the alleged mastermind of a vast Chinese...

Lai Changxing, the alleged mastermind of a vast Chinese smuggling ring who said he faced execution if expelled to China was denied asylum in Canada. Changxing, a businessman wanted by Beijing on unspecified criminal charges, was denied refugee status by a Canadian immigration board in 2002. "He's in Canada for protection," his lawyer David Matas told reporters in Vancouver, at a press conference at which Lai complained of his mundane life under house arrest. "He's afraid of torture and death," Matas said. Lai fled to western Canada with his wife and three children in 1999, after China launched a campaign against corruption and smuggling. China alleges Lai ran a six billion Canadian dollar (four billion US) smuggling ring in Fujian province. Lai appealed the Canadian immigration board ruling, but in February 2004, a federal court refused to overturn the board decision. But in a technical process, the court opened the door to another appeal by agreeing on two outstanding issues in the case, the first that China had not notified Lai about any specific criminal charges. The second outstanding issue was torture, and the legitimacy of evidence heard by the immigration board. "There's some indication ... evidence was obtained through torture," said Matas. Canadian immigration board members and judges had heard evidence that several of his associates in China, including his brother and accountant, have been executed or died in labour camps. Like most developed countries Canada does not execute criminals, and Canadian law prohibits deporting people if they're facing capital punishment. China had sent Canada an unusual diplomatic note promising that if Lai was convicted of a crime he would not be executed. However, Matas argues the promise could not be trusted because China had broken a similar promise to another country.