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French investigate after Interpol chief Meng Hongwei goes missing French investigate after Interpol chief Meng Hongwei goes missing
(35 minutes later)
French police have opened an investigation after the wife of the director of Interpol, Meng Hongwei, said she had not heard from her husband since he travelled home to his native China last week, according to police sources.French police have opened an investigation after the wife of the director of Interpol, Meng Hongwei, said she had not heard from her husband since he travelled home to his native China last week, according to police sources.
French police sources and justice officials said Meng’s wife, who lives with him and their children in Lyon, south-east France, where the global organisation for police cooperation is based, reported him missing on Friday.French police sources and justice officials said Meng’s wife, who lives with him and their children in Lyon, south-east France, where the global organisation for police cooperation is based, reported him missing on Friday.
He was last seen leaving for China from Interpol’s headquarters on 29 September, a judicial source close to the investigation Agence-France Presse. “He did not disappear in France,” the source added.He was last seen leaving for China from Interpol’s headquarters on 29 September, a judicial source close to the investigation Agence-France Presse. “He did not disappear in France,” the source added.
Interpol did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation.Interpol did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation.
Meng, 64, was formerly China’s deputy minister of public security, a position which critics said which critics say gave him control over the country’s secret police, and has also previously served as director of the country’s coastguard and deputy head of the Chinese state oceanic administration. Meng, 64, was formerly China’s deputy minister of public security, a position which critics say gave him control over the country’s secret police, and has also previously served as director of the coastguard and deputy head of the Chinese state oceanic administration.
The first Chinese leader of Interpol, which connects the law enforcement agencies of its 192 member countries, he was elected the organisation’s head in November 2016, replacing French policewoman Mireille Ballestrazzi, and was due to serve until 2020. The first Chinese leader of Interpol, which connects the law enforcement agencies of its 192 member countries, Meng was elected the organisation’s head in November 2016, replacing French police officer Mireille Ballestrazzi, and was due to serve until 2020.
Human rights organisations such as Amnesty International expressed grave concerns about Meng’s appointment at the time, suggesting China might use it to pursue regime opponents beyond the country’s borders.Human rights organisations such as Amnesty International expressed grave concerns about Meng’s appointment at the time, suggesting China might use it to pursue regime opponents beyond the country’s borders.
Amnesty International’s director for East Asia said on Twitter that Meng’s appointment was “extraordinarily worrying given China’s longstanding practice of trying to use Interpol to arrest dissidents and refugees abroad.” He added that the mandate of police in China included protecting the Communist Party’s power. Amnesty International’s director for East Asia tweeted that Meng’s appointment was “extraordinarily worrying, given China’s longstanding practice of trying to use Interpol to arrest dissidents and refugees abroad.” He added that the mandate of police in China included protecting the Communist party’s power.
Western countries have also been reluctant to sign extradition treaties with China due to concerns from rights groups over the mistreatment of criminal suspects, and have said China can be reluctant to provide proof of suspects’ crimes.Western countries have also been reluctant to sign extradition treaties with China due to concerns from rights groups over the mistreatment of criminal suspects, and have said China can be reluctant to provide proof of suspects’ crimes.
Beijing saw Meng’s election as a chance to enlist international help in tracking down alleged economic criminals, including corrupt officials living abroad, targeted as part of President Xi Jinping’s much-publicised anti-graft drive.Beijing saw Meng’s election as a chance to enlist international help in tracking down alleged economic criminals, including corrupt officials living abroad, targeted as part of President Xi Jinping’s much-publicised anti-graft drive.
In 2014, China issued an Interpol “red notice” - the closest thing to an international arrest warrant - for the country’s 100 most-wanted corruption suspects who had fled the country, many of whom have since been returned. In 2014, China issued an Interpol “red notice” – the closest thing to an international arrest warrant – for the country’s 100 most-wanted corruption suspects who had fled the country, many of whom have since been returned.
Some countries have alleged that campaign - known as Operation Fox Hunt - has led to Chinese law agents operating undercover on their territory without consent. Some countries have alleged the campaign, known as Operation Fox Hunt, has led to Chinese law agents operating undercover on their territory without consent.
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