Fugitive Bank of China manager Gao Shan has been arrested in Vancouver on immigration charges. He is accused of embezzling between 800 million yuan and 1 billion yuan.
The 42-year-old former banker is being held by Canadian authorities for allegedly making false statements on papers he filed to enter Canada as a permanent resident in 2005. Gao, wife Li Xue and daughter Gao Shanxuellan were arrested on Sunday in their middle-class, suburban North Vancouver house.
His wife and daughter, who are permanent residents, have been released but a decision will be made by the Canadian immigration authorities today on whether to keep Gao in detention.
If his immigration status is revoked, the Canadian government can expel him, but it is unclear if he would be sent directly back to China.
The former bank manager is wanted by mainland authorities for his alleged main role in a billion-yuan fraud case at a Bank of China sub-branch in Harbin , Heilongjiang .
Gao's immigration counsel, Alex Ning, said his client was arrested for inaccurately stating where he had worked in China.