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Meerholz set free but still faces deportation

Alleged Prince George gangster Francois (Frankie) Meerholz was released from detention by an Immigration Refugee Board (IRB) adjudicator on Thursday but his days in Canada appear to remain numbered.

Alleged Prince George gangster Francois (Frankie) Meerholz was released from detention by an Immigration Refugee Board (IRB) adjudicator on Thursday but his days in Canada appear to remain numbered.

During a hearing in Vancouver, Meerholz, 23, who is facing deportation to South Africa, was found not in violation of his bail despite his arrest March 25 when Prince George RCMP were called to a complaint of someone trying to break into vehicles at a Central Street motel.

"His lawyer argued quite successfully that 'conviction' was a breach of the terms and conditions, not 'allegations, arrests or charges," IRB spokesperson Melissa Anderson said.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials re-arrested Meerholz, who had been out on $5,000 bail since Jan. 20, following his arrest.

Meerholz may soon be out of the country as a CBSA official told the hearing there appears to be not barriers to obtaining the required travel documents and they should be received shortly.

Meerholz has lived in Prince George since age 10 but has remained a South African citizen.

See the full story in tomorrow's print and online editions.