Supreme Court to hear three people-smuggling cases, including Sun Sea appeals

OTTAWA – The Supreme Court of Canada will hear three appeals in cases where people were denied refugee status because they were allegedly involved in people smuggling.

Two of the cases involve an individual and a couple who were aboard the MV Sun Sea, which carried almost 500 Sri Lankan nationals to Canada in 2010.

The unidentified individual was denied refugee status because the refugee protection board ruled he had engaged in people smuggling for acting as a cook and watch keeper on the ship.

In a similar decision, the couple was denied refugee status because the man was recruited to navigate the ship after the Thai crew left the vessel.

The third case involves a Cuban who came to Canada after he was convicted in the U.S. of trying to smuggle other Cubans into that country by boat.

In all three cases, the Federal Court ordered a review of the board decisions, but that was overturned by the Federal Court of Appeal.