China's promise not to sentence the most wanted fugitive Lai
Changxing to death is an essential prerequisite to have him
repatriated from Canada, said Ni Shouming, a spokesman for the
Supreme People's Court, said on Tuesday.
"We made the promise (not to sentence Lai to death) to seek his
repatriation, and it is the only correct option to punish crimes
and safeguard the interests of the nation," Ni said during an
interview with xinhuanet.com, a leading news Internet portal in
China.
Lai was accused of being the mastermind behind the country's
largest smuggling ring. He fled to Canada in 1999 and remains
there. China wants to bring him back to face charges of smuggling,
bribery and tax evasion.
Canadian officials have been unwilling to allow Lai's
extradition because he could be sentenced to death. Recently,
Canada's federal court held a hearing on the risks evaluation of
Lai's repatriation.
Ni said that there are two options for China: refusing to make
any promise and giving up the efforts for Lai's repatriation, or
making a promise to have him back.
"Such a promise has nothing to do with justice fairness," Ni
said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2007)