By Mata Press Service

A group of Chinese-Canadians allegedly duped by China’s most wanted man plan to hold a protest rally against the fugitive next month in Vancouver.

Lai Changxing, the alleged smuggling kingpin who was recently given another chance by the courts to fight deportation to China, is alleged to have taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from members of the group, who had given him money for investments.

The demonstration is planned for May 6th.

Lai has denied the allegations by the group saying some of them are agents of China trying to smear his name and force his return.

Chinese authorities accuse Lai of masterminding a network that smuggled as much as US$10 billion of goods with the protection of corrupt government officials. Beijing claims the smuggled goods included cigarettes, vehicles, heating and cooking oil, textiles, chemicals and other raw materials.

Lai, his wife and their three children fled China and arrived in Canada in 1999, and then applied for asylum. Lai has moved to an apartment in downtown Vancouver after he divorced his wife. He is under limited house arrest.

Recently, the Federal Court of Canada ordered a judicial review of an earlier assessment that concluded Lai and his wife, Tsang Mingna, would not be tortured if returned to China.

China has assured that it won’t impose the death penalty on Lai but has executed others involved in the smuggling operation. Lai’s lawyer, David Matas, said the latest ruling could stretch the extradition process out for another two years before the case is resolved.

This has angered those claiming they have been duped by Lai in Canada. They feel Lai should be deported immediately before others fall prey to his alleged scams. One of those claiming to have lost about $180,000 to Lai is real estate broker Tony Wong.

He has filed a police report with Burnaby RCMP claiming that “Lai and his accomplices have swindled many Canadians for millions of dollars in the last six years”

One of the projects he invested in involved a scheme to distribute tax-free fuel from a stationary tanker parked in the South China Sea. Wong claims in his police report that many people were taken in because they were impressed with Lai’s connections in China, which he allegedly told them were still strong. Some of the victims have reportedly filed reports with Immigration Canada while Lai is said to have been involved in fights with others.

Wong claims in his police report Lai and his partner used a palatial home on Kitchener Street in Burnaby, fancy cars and lavish parties to impress potential clients.

Lai claims he has repaid Wong and has denied all the other allegations. Burnaby RCMP, which opened a file to investigate Wong’s report, concluded they cannot prove any intent by Lai to cheat.

The officer who looked into the case wrote to Wong saying: “The information you supplied shows you invested with Lai but did he actually receive any of your money directly and did he access it. Even our Integrated Proceeds of Crime Section spent 2 1/2 years investigating Lai and had to suspend their investigation.”

“I feel your best course of action would be for civil action as they base their case on a balance of probabilities. Lai’s divorce was completed July 22, 2005 and the house went to Tsang and this proves nothing except that she was awarded the house which she promptly sold.

“Lai is close to being returned to China and this seems to be our best hope right now.

Once again, I apologize for not being able to assist,” the officer wrote, prior to the recent court ruling.

After the latest court ruling, Lai told reporters that he was receiving financial support from friends.

 Lai, who grew up in a peasant family, said if allowed to stay in Canada he would turn to farming.

“He says being a farmer is the safest,” a translator told reporters.