THERE is plenty of room at the inn called Canada, especially if you are an internation- al fugitive secking a safe refuge. And ifyou have a tew mil- lion or Billion in vour sut- case, Chances are vou could be spending alot of Christmases in Canada, Over the past few weeks, the amazing tales of the world’s most wanted ending up in Vancouver have been gracing the local news. The latest two, from Mexico and China, add to another nwo of the same vari- ety. Ibis quite amazing really, how these four men all man- aged to come to Canada to escape prosecution for their allegedly nefarious deeds. At the same time, in the same country, in the same city for that matter. Let's take a peek at these cases. Vancouver is providing refuge to the most wanted man in the Philippines, Dewey Go Dee. His native country wants a few words with him over an alleged S80 million US traud case, Dee has been here for 17 years. His son, Duncan, is a former special assistant to Heritage Minister Sheila Copps. When the extradition procedures began to get a fit- ue messy, Duncan Dee gor . shifted from Copps* office to a government liaison job with Air Canada in Ottawa. All the better to keep it at arm’s Jength, | suppose. Then there’s the infamous - case of Rakesh Saxena, the crime and ae punishinen nt most wanted man in Thailand. Saxena is accused of embeszing over S88 mil- tion trom the Bangkok Bank of Commerce. The case caused a run on the bank and triggered the Asian cco- nomie crisis, the so-called Asian flu excuse much used bv the NDP to try and hide their own incompetence. Saxena was arrested in 1996 and Thailand has been exhausting all diplomatic efforts ever since to get him returned. Several courts have said that Saxena should be returned to Thailand but his counsel, Russ Charberlain, has been using every legal avenue to keep him here, The Saxena case got a lot of media attention when he was placed ander house arrest ata luxurious False Creek condo, guarded not by agents of the state, but by private security guards paid for by Saxena. All those mil- lions evidently buy a lot of slack trom the system. Not to be outdone, Lai Changxing got tipped off that he was about to be arrested in China and together with his wife and assorted billions, made his way to Vancouver as well. On Now. 27, the RCMP in Ontario arrested China's most wanted man while his wile got scooped in Vancouver. Hy is still in cus- tody and the international wrangling gees on. But, with his suitcase rulbof money, he Is TrViNg to negouate the same arrangement that Saxena has. He is accused of being the head ofa multe talon dollar smageling ring ema nating from the Fujian province of China, Some of the peeple involved with Lai were the very ones Immigration Minister Elinor Cc aplan met with when she traveled to the PRC to ask it they could heip keep illegal immigrants from washing up on our beaches. Florist ah © WEDDINGS © FUNERAL HOMES © HOSPITALS ABWAYS LOW PRICES We deliver in North & West Nan, Downtown and Lower Mainland Wire (AG & Teleflora) ois tty os a ot ss Gn f-7A2-3 1 866- 607. HG 1407 LONSDALE AVE, NORTH AN 987-0742-3 1835 LONSDALE AVE, NORTH VAN 987-1530 wow floweresds cam From left to right: Dianne We'ch, Asst. Mgr. Jennifer Moore and Rona Tanaka. YEWINNENRS is excited to announce the Winners of the Grand Opening Win a $500 Wardrobe Contest. Thousands of people entered but only. four lucky names were drawn, Dianne Welch $500 winner, Rona Tanake; C. Rogier, and Debbie Harrison all $50 winners. The draw took place December “T1th. Congratulations to the four lucky gift certificate winners. YEWINNERS opened the North Vancouver Store on Octeber 19, 2000. “Since we have opened, we have received a warm weicome from the community’, sas’s the store manager Barb McLean. “Customers seem to enjoy the thrill of finding the great merchandise at a great price”, adds McLean. Winners car- fies a wide variety of famous brand name and designer merchandise at 20% to 60% fess than department store prices, everyday. The key to shopping at “YEWINA EWS is to shop often. Each store receives over 10,000 items weekly, so there's always something new. WWINNERS Lynn Valley Centre, Lynn Valley Rd. and Mountain Highway. se contact the store for the holiday hours. Pleas 990-8230 Now, last weck comes the story about Carlos Espinesa, the former Minister of Tourism in Mexica and the former niaver of Mexico City. Following the coflapse atthe longtime ruling parry, Espinosa took tight yust betore the net dropped on him. He is alleged to have done a runner with $45 mil tion US. Police are trving to track down all the cash, some of which is believed to be stashed here. He rented a Cessna Citation jet and tlew the coop, coming te Canada. He spent sone dine in See Jean’s pane 9 Wednesday, December 20, 2000 - North Shore News - 7 OM a Lett pl Serving the Lower Maiuland jor over 2 2 VOM —— vee oo ace rt ety www.sidrapesandblinds.com Custom Rods, Uphatstery & Bedspreads fA haat our Sentars Drconnt: For Free Estimare call 922-4975 or 987-2966 rial 204 pet panel tons Low Low Pricrs ___. church calendar every friday in the news Complete Collision Lilt: bes ae o repalt ail makes | sien and domes 4 ant ert ao nopinnit ‘Vehietes 3s avallable All private: collision ve eS! ct ee «dort 14 ina " L ‘Government leeneed inspoction station wd ARA carttied body shop . :