Immigration fraud charges stayed against Charlottetown motel operators
CHARLOTTETOWN — Immigration fraud charges were stayed Friday against two Charlottetown motel owners after it was alleged hundreds of newcomers used their hotel as an address though they didn’t intend to remain on the Island under a provincially sponsored program.
The federal prosecution service confirmed that it asked a provincial court judge to stay the charges because there wasn’t sufficient evidence to proceed further against the siblings operating the Sherwood Motel.
The decision came after several days of testimony and cross examination of a federal investigator.
In May, the Canada Border Services Agency charged 60-year-old Ping Zhong with three counts of aiding and abetting misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and five charges were laid against her 58-year-old brother, Yi Zhong.