(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."