(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – The first murder suspect in Quebec to be set free after the length of his criminal proceedings exceeded the legal limit told immigration and refugee authorities Thursday he wants to be deported back to Sri Lanka, Canadian media reported..
Sivaloganathan Thanabalasingam, a refugee from Sri Lanka who was charged with murdering his wife, told the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada during his detention hearing he no longer fears returning to his home country.
“I don’t have any kids, I don’t have anything in Criminal Code or immigration code,” he said. “So I don’t know why I’m still in jail. That’s what I’m thinking … to go back to my country.”
Thanabalasingam, 31, was charged with second-degree murder in the slaying of his 21-year-old wife, Anuja Baskaran.
The charge was stayed in April after the length of the proceedings was deemed to have violated a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that set time limits for trials to be completed, Canoe.com reported.
He became the first murder suspect in Quebec to be set free as a consequence of the court ruling, known as the Jordan decision. Crown officials in Quebec are appealing the Superior Court decision that stayed the proceedings.
Despite being set free, Thanabalasingam was never released from custody.
After the stay he was promptly rearrested by Canada Border Services Agency and ordered deported by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Thanabalasingam is still protected by Canada as a refugee, so it is unclear if and how he will be deported.
The immigration board member ordered him to remain in the custody of the Canada Border Services Agency.
His next detention review hearing is scheduled for June 9.