Lai Changxing in Vancouver, Canada, in 2001. Chinese fugitive Changxing's deportation to China was postponed, after Canada's Federal Court scheduled a hearing on May 31 in his last-ditch effort to remain in Canada. [AFP]

A Canadian Federal court heard on Wednesday (May 31) in Ottawa, the deportation case of the accused smuggling kingpin Lai Changxing, but the chief justice sitting on the case did not make a ruling yet.

The hearing began at 10:00am and ended at about 15:00pm. The chief justice said a ruling would be made on June 1 or June 2, a Xinhua report said.

During the hearing, Lai's attorney, David Matas, first made a defence statement, and then Canadian government lawyer Esta Resnick representing the immigration authorities refuted Matas' statement item by item.

Resnick said Lai is a criminal on the run, and could never be categorized as a "political criminal," saying his deportation to China is "in the best interest of the public." 

On Wednesday, the Canadian court said that it had got renewed promise from Beijing not to execute its Number one fugitive Lai, if he is deported from Canada.

It is reported that Canada has sought pledge from Chinese government after comments from a foreign ministry official in Beijing last week indicated it might back away from a diplomatic promise to give the most wanted man leniency.

"The government did get a new assurance from the Chinese side," Canadian lawyer Esta Resnick told a court hearing in Ottawa where Lai is asking for a delay in his pending deportation back to China, according to a Reuter report.

Canada does not have capital punishment and has refused to extradite people to countries where they face execution if convicted. It received Beijing's pledge in a diplomatic note in 2001 the documents in Lai's immigration case revealed.

Lai had been scheduled to be removed from Canada last week, but that was put on hold for this hearing. Lai's attorney wants a delay so Lai can argue that Canadian officials have been biased in handling the case.

Justice Carolyn Layden-Stevenson said she expects to rule on Thursday local time (Friday Beijing Time). If she refuses to delay the deportation, Lai is slated for removal on Friday.

Lai is accused of masterminding a multibillion-dollar operation that bribed Chinese officials and police to avoid taxes and duties on goods ranging from fuel to cigarettes smuggled into China in the 1990s.

Lai, who came to Canada in 1999, has sought asylum in Canada on the grounds he would be put to death if convicted in China.