COMING HOME
Canadian freed from China
A Canadian jailed in China for more than two years and accused of spying has been released and is back in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office confirmed Thursday.
Kevin Garratt lived in China for about 30 years, conducted Christian aid work and ran a popular coffee shop near China’s border with North Korea.
He and his wife, Julia, were arrested just over two years ago, although she was released on bail about six months later.
In January, Garratt, formerly of Vancouver, was indicted on accusations of spying for Canada and stealing Chinese state secrets.
Garratt’s family said in a statement that a court in Dandong issued its ruling in the case against him on Tuesday.
He was deported from China on Thursday and has returned to Canada to be with his friends and family, the statement said.
“The Garratt family thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers, and also thanks the many individuals who worked to secure Kevin’s release,” it said.
The family asked for privacy and said it would release more information in the coming weeks. The brief statement provided no other details.
James Zimmerman, the Beijing-based lawyer for the Garratts, said he escorted Garratt to Canada from China on Thursday morning.
Zimmerman released a photo showing Garratt embracing his wife at Vancouver International Airport.
Trudeau’s office issued a brief statement Thursday expressing “delight” at Garratt’s release, adding the government has been closely following the case.
“We remain deeply impressed by the grace and resilience of the Garratt family, especially Kevin and Julia,” the statement said.
“The Government of Canada has been seized of this case at the highest levels. We want to thank consular officials who work behind the scenes every day in support of Canadians abroad.”
Rona Ambrose, the interim Conservative leader, tweeted: “I join all Canadians in celebrating Kevin Garratt’s safe return. Thanks to all those who worked so hard for so long to accomplish this.”
During his first formal trip visit to China in late August and early September, Trudeau said that he had raised Garratt’s case during his talks with Chinese leaders.
The Garratts’ son Simeon recently told The Canadian Press he was hopeful that Trudeau’s first official trip to China would somehow move his father’s all-but-stagnant case forward, though the family also released a statement saying they were disappointed with an apparent lack of progress on the case.
The release comes a week before Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is to visit Canada for talks with Trudeau. The two countries are exploring the possibility of a free trade deal. The two leaders also are expected to discuss environmental co-operation, legal and judicial collaboration and cultural exchanges.
Simeon Garratt has steadfastly denied his parents were involved in any sort of espionage.
The accusations against the couple in August 2014 came about a week after Canada accused a Chinasponsored hacker of infiltrating Canada’s National Research Council, the country’s top research and development organization.
The couple worked with North Star Aid, whose website said the British Columbia-registered charity seeks to help North Koreans primarily through providing humanitarian aid.
Simeon Garratt has said his parents made no secret of their faith but did not flaunt it in China, where proselytizing is against the law.