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| Subject: Interesting case |
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HIV stripper fights $30-million lawsuit
Husband suing ex-wife, government and agencies for contracting HIV from Thai woman
By TOM GODFREY, QMI Agency
Percy Whiteman, left, with lawyer Sal Grillo outside Osgoode Hall in Toronto, Tuesday, March 24, 2009. Whiteman´s ex-wife, a Thai-born stripper, is fighting Whiteman´s $30-million lawsuit. (QMI/Tom Godfrey, file)
TORONTO -- Lawyers for an HIV-infected Thai stripper are going to court Monday in a bid to get dismissed a $30-million lawsuit filed by her ex-husband.
Percy Whiteman, 34, of Toronto, is suing his ex, Suwalee Iamkhong, the Canada Border Services Agency, Immigration Canada and the Zanzibar Tavern, alleging their negligence led to him contracting HIV.
Whiteman claims Iamkhong, 40, a former go-go dancer and prostitute in Hong Kong, was allowed into Canada with HIV and that led to his life being placed in jeopardy.
Iamkhong arrived in Canada in 1995 and worked as a stripper at the Zanzibar Tavern on Yonge St. until 2004. The pair were married from 1997 to 2004, when she told him that she had HIV.
Iamkhong was sentenced in August 2007 to two years in jail after being convicted of criminal negligence causing bodily harm for infecting Whiteman.
She appealed her sentence and it was reduced to two years less a day, allowing her to appeal a deportation order.
FAILED TO CONDUCT TEST
"The government failed to conduct an HIV test," Whiteman´s lawyer, Maurice Benzaquen, said yesterday.
"Percy is suffering from this illness because the government failed to protect him."
The tests are now mandatory for immigrants over the age of 15.
It will cost Whiteman a fortune in medical bills to control his illness, he said.
"If he is successful in this action, he will have some money to help himself," Benzaquen said. "It costs thousands of dollars a month for medical cocktails."
The case now being heard in court is the first involving a lawsuit against federal immigration authorities over a lack of HIV tests, he said.
"I am trying to secure my future," Whiteman said. "I will have to look after my medical needs."
Whiteman said he´s not going to rest until Iamkhong is deported.
"I can´t wait until she´s deported because of what she has done to me," he said. "I want to see justice done."
Iamkhong is being detained on an immigration hold. Her Toronto lawyer couldn´t be reached for comment yesterday.
TOM.GODFREY@SUNMEDIA.CA
[30-12-2009,15:12]
[**.210.15.78]
Anonymous |
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(in reply to: Interesting case)
Love or Desire gone sour!
Should not the Canadian Taxpayer be suing too?
How about collecting for the two years incarceration as well the cost of her being in the Immigration Detention Centre?
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[31-12-2009,06:13]
[**.52.216.133]
Roy |
(in reply to: Interesting case)
He had to marry a THAI stripper? Don´t you know how bad Bankcock is? I can´t fathom how stupid that guy must be! or desperate.
[04-01-2010,18:17]
[***.202.38.241]
costs |
(in reply to: Interesting case)
Stripper arrived Canada in 1995 and worked as a stripper from 1995 to 2004. The couple were married 1997 to 2004. What sort of a low-life husband would allow his "wife" to work as a stripper?
[04-01-2010,19:09]
[**.210.15.78]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Interesting case)
one that was not insecure and liked the size of her paycheque.
[04-01-2010,19:49]
[**.154.245.217]
Sharon |
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