BOOTED MARIJUANA GROWER WINS NEW HEARING

A Calgary operator of a marijuana grow-op who preyed on new immigrants
and was the source of some pot sent to Toronto has won a legal victory
in his fight to stay in Canada.

De Bing Li, 38, of Vietnam, was jailed for 16 months in February 2006
after pleading guilty to production of a controlled substance and
possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

FOUR HOMES

He was one of four men charged in August 2004 after Calgary police
raided four homes used for marijuana growing operations and seized
more than 2,000 plants with an estimated street value of $2.5 million.

Police said the ring grew pot in a network of grow-ops in Calgary.
Most of the drugs were sold in that city with some being trucked to
Toronto and other parts of Canada.

Court heard Li, who is a permanent resident and father of two young
children, was declared inadmissable to Canada and ordered deported in
July last year because of his criminal record.

He appealed the deportation to the Federal Court of Canada, which this
month ruled there was an error made in the case by an immigration and
refugee board. The court ruled he should receive a new hearing.

NEWCOMERS

Court was told the ring preyed on newcomers to Canada who were offered
big money to look after the plants. Many, like Li, quit their jobs to
go into the drug trade.

"The appellant is not rehabilitated and has not shown remorse,"
Federal Court Judge Robert Barnes said. "The only objective finding in
his favour is that he is bringing in a revenue to this household."

Li claimed he did not know what he was doing was illegal.

No date has been set for a new hearing.