Somali man facing deportation arrested
CBC News
Last Updated: Saturday, March 20, 2010 | 12:34 PM CT
Mohamed Said Jama, a Winnipeg man with a lengthy criminal history who is fighting a deportation order, is back in custody authorities say.
Jama, 40, has been in Canada since 1991 when he arrived as a refugee from Somalia.
Four years later, Jama began racking up a criminal record beginning with an impaired driving conviction in B.C.
His most serious convictions related to crimes in Winnipeg in 2005 and 2006 involving weapons, robbery and aggravated assault.
The government decided Jama was a danger to the public and launched a deportation process.
Jama fought the deportation order, but lost.
An attempt last fall by officials to escort him to Somalia did not work out and Jama was brought back to Canada. He was in custody until Feb. 5.
Jama was released on several conditions, including that he check in with authorities once a month.
However, when March rolled around, Jama did not do so.
Authorities caught up to him on Friday afternoon, and say he was arrested “without incident” and is being held at the Winnipeg Remand Centre.
In a news release, the Canada Border Services Agency said they would again try to remove Jama from Canada.
Jama's lawyer says his client is worried he may be killed upon his return to Somalia because he is the son of a reviled former high-ranking Somali military official.
