News
Top Story
FYI & Lotteries
Health
Search Archives
Adopt-A-Pet
News Guest
News Bios
 Video
 My Portfolio
 Sports
 Weather & Roads
 Entertainment
 BCTV Guide
 Recipes
 Travel
 Blue Zone
 Contests
 Chat
 About BCTV
 Contact
 Help
 Advertising
 Disclaimer
Building Entertaining Websites


Wednesday, September 15, 1999

SMUGGLING SHIP CAPTAIN GRANTED RELEASE ORDER
(BCTV) - He was at the helm when that first shipload of illegal migrants arrived off the coast of B.C. earlier this summer. He had been hired by the so-called "Snakeheads" to help smuggle humans into Canada. But as Catherine Pope reports, despite his role in the operation, he may soon be released.

"This is Ziang Chun Liang...And BCTV News has learned he was the captain of the first boat from China. As it turns out, it was no accident he landed in Nootka Sound. In fact, Liang says he was given precise coordinates. And once there, two men went ashore on a raft to make phone calls. That was when a couple of American fishermen stumbled upon them...blowing the whole smuggling operation wide open, with the arrest of 123 passengers and crew.

According to documents obtained by BCTV news, Liang wasn't just the captain, he owned the ship. According to his declaration, he paid 300-thousand Chinese dollars for it - about 60-thousand Canadian. And in exchange for bringing the boat and its human cargo to Canada, he received free passage.

Ironically, that deal bought him his freedom today. Because he owes no money to the smugglers, he was deemed a low risk for disappearing and an adjudicator has ordered him released.

But Liang will have to come up a two-thousand dollar bond before he's set free. And his release is only temporary. He has applied for refugee status and that claim will be heard in November. Incidentally, his lawyer told (Catherine Pope) Liang is claiming refugee status on the basis of his anti-government views that have led to his political persecution."

______ __ _____ ________ ____ ______ ________ ____ ______ _________ ___________ __________ _______ ______________ __________ _______ ____________ __________ _______ ___________
 
  go to news search go to help go to chat go to contact bctv