Convicted pedophile who served time in Thailand arrested at Vancouver airport
VANCOUVER – A convicted pedophile who was returning home to British Columbia after serving a prison sentence in Thailand is in custody after being arrested at Vancouver’s airport.
Christopher Neil had pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy in Thailand, where he was sentenced in 2008 to three years and three months in prison.
Neil was the subject of a massive international manhunt for sexually assaulting children and posting the acts on the Internet, with his face disguised with a digital swirl.
Cpl. Mat Van Laer (Lar) of the RCMP’s Integrated Child Exploitation Unit says a warrant was secured for Neil’s arrest prior to his arrival at the airport late Friday night.
He says a bail hearing was conducted Saturday morning and Neil will be appearing before a judge on Monday in order to assess his release or impose any conditions.
Van Laer says police felt the severity and nature of the crime Neil committed abroad meant he needs to be monitored for the sake of public safety.
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