National Post (National Edition)
Man found guilty of smuggling Tamils
MV SUN SEA
VANCOUVER • A man accused of bringing hundreds of Tamil migrants into Canada illegally in a dilapidated cargo ship nearly seven years ago has been found guilty.
Crown counsel Charles Hough said a B.C. Supreme Hundreds of passengers crowd the deck of MV Sun Sea as it approaches the B.C. coast. The man who captained the ship in 2010 has been found guilty of human smuggling. Court jury found Kunarobinson Christhurajah guilty Saturday of the human smuggling of 10 or more people.
It was a retrial for the Sri Lankan national over his involvement in the voyage of the MV Sun Sea, which travelled from Thailand to British Columbia’s coast in 2010.
The MV Sun Sea left Thailand in July and arrived off the coast of B.C. five weeks later, carrying 492 Sri Lankan Tamils who intended to claim refugee status. The derelict vessel crossed the Pacific without a formal crew.
The previous trial, which ended in January, acquitted three other men of human smuggling in the case, but the jury at the time was left undecided on Christhurajah.
Rajaratnam’s mother-inlaw, father-in-law, brotherin-law and two cousins were all travelling with him.
Emmanuel’s lawyer said his client bought a ticket intending to be a passenger. It was only after the Thai crew abandoned the ship that he was pressured into taking over as captain because of his maritime experience.
Christhurajah served six years in jail before being granted bail in February.
Justice Catherine Wedge did not schedule a sentencing hearing.