China jails smuggler Lai Changxing for life

18 May 2012 09:56 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Lai Changxing has been jailed for life for running a multi-billion dollar smuggling ring, Chinese media say.

Xinhua news agency said Lai, extradited from Canada, was convicted and sentenced by a Fujian court.

The 53-year-old was accused of bribing officials and smuggling goods including cars, cigarettes and oil in one of China's biggest political scandals.

He fled to Canada in 1999 and avoided extradition for 12 years by arguing he faced torture and execution in China.

Beijing promised Canada he would not be executed and he was deported in 2011.

Canada usually forbids the extradition of suspects to countries where they might face the death penalty, and the case severely tested diplomatic relations between the two.

Smuggling operation

The sentence was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Xiamen - the city at the heart of Lai's operations - after a trial which began in early April.

The court said Lai's income that was obtained illegally would be confiscated, Xinhua reports.

Lai was accused of running a huge smuggling operation from 1991 to 1999.

He established a complex network to cheat import tariffs of 13.99bn yuan ($2.21bn) on goods worth 27.39bn yuan, the court said.

The goods included cigarettes, cars, heating and cooking oil, textiles and chemicals.

It also said Lai and his associates bribed 64 government officials with amounts totalling 39.13m yuan.

Some 300 people were punished for their involvement in the operation.

"The sums involved are unusually large, and the details are extraordinarily serious," the court said, according to the Xinhua report.

It is not clear whether Lai is planning to appeal.

(source : www.bbc.co.uk)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

China jails smuggler Lai Changxing for life

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

New Visa procedure implemented

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

MIRROR CRICKET

TODAY'S HEADLINES