Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 18/00) - A world-class marathon runner from Morocco overstayed his welcome in Canada and will likely be sent to his native land after paying a $1,000 fine.

Ahmed Benreddad came to Yellowknife about a year ago, and has worked in the kitchen at Bruno's Pizza, sending money home to his family.

Police arrested Benreddad on Oct. 6 and he was in court to face Immigration Act charges last Friday.

Court was told he initially lied to police, saying he had lost his passport and gave them a false name.

"Given the course of his repeated lies to Immigration Canada the message needs to be brought home that Canada will not stand for people deceiving Immigration," said Crown counsel Sue Kendall in asking for a monetary fine.

Immigration Canada will decide within a few weeks how Benreddad will be sent home, according to his, lawyer Robert Gorin.

Benreddad has travelled extensively, competing in marathons around the world. After going to the United States and competing in Texas the clean-cut 33-year-old came to Canada, settling first in Toronto.

He was supposed to compete in a marathon in Nova Scotia but came to Yellowknife instead.

In setting the fine, Judge Michel Bourassa ordered the Crown to return more than $2,700 that was taken from Benreddad when he was arrested.