The gears of the machine of justice move oh, so slowly.

Failed refugee claimant heading home to Punjab Three earlier attempts to deport Laibar Singh failed Kim Bolan, Vancouver SunPublished: Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Paralysed would-be refugee claimant Laibar Singh was to be put on a plane back to India early today after his failed bid to remain in Canada on humanitarian grounds.

Well-wishers spent Monday stopping by Abbotsford's Kalgidhar Darbar Sikh temple to say goodbye to Singh, who thwarted three earlier attempts by the Canada Border Services Agency to deport him.

Temple president Swarn Singh Gill said Singh crossed customs by 9 p.m. Monday and was in the custody of border officials who were to escort him onto the flight, which was scheduled to leave just after midnight.

  Laibar Singh at Vancouver airport late Monday before clearing Customs. He is with acupuncturist Sarabjit Romana (left). Mark Van Manen, Vancouver Sun  

Earlier Monday, Gill said many supporters were sad to see Singh go and were offering him cash to help with his care once he returns to his native state of Punjab. "A lot of people have been coming by," he said.

He said Singh, 49, would travel on a regular commercial flight, but CBSA was sending a nurse to help the disabled man during the long journey.

"We are still very concerned about him," Gill said.

Singh announced through his lawyer and Gill two weeks ago that he was giving up sanctuary and would report to the CBSA to return to India. He said he missed his family and was too stressed out by fears he would be arrested if he had a medical emergency and had to leave the temple where he has stayed on and off since January 2007.

Singh arrived in Canada in 2003 on a false passport and later applied for refugee status. But he lost his case and all appeals, and a removal order was issued against him. He landed in hospital in 2006 after an illness left him paralysed and dependent on a wheelchair.

The Vancouver Sun first reported on his plight in June 2007 when it was learned he would be deported a few days later despite his then-fragile health. He took sanctuary in the Abbotsford temple the same day that the CBSA had chartered a flight to Delhi.

The CBSA tried to deport him again in December 2007, but protesters blockaded the airport, preventing his removal a second time. In January, after Singh was settled at Surrey's Guru Nanak temple, another rally stopped a third deportation attempt.

But community support dwindled after a $50,000 bond put up by a number of groups was forfeited to the government last March because Singh failed to report for deportation. Gill said about $38,000 has been raised to help cover the costs of Singh's care in India. He said he does not blame the CBSA for Singh's losing battle to remain here.