Meng Wanzhou’s lawyer blasts ex-Mountie for ‘shock’ refusal to testify at extradition hearing

Meng Wanzhou’s lawyer on Monday condemned a former Canadian police officer for his “unprecedented” refusal to testify at the Huawei Technologies executive’s extradition hearing, saying the court should not believe the ex-officer’s affidavit that he did not send information about Meng’s phones to the American FBI.

Former Royal Canadian Mounted Police staff sergeant Ben Chang, who left the force and became a casino executive in the Chinese territory of Macau, has retained a lawyer who says he will not appear at the hearing in the Supreme Court of British Columbia; a document filed by Canadian government lawyers cited “witness safety” for their previous refusal to hand over material related to Chang.

“There is a certain shock value in the notion a former senior police officer would refuse to be cross-examined on an affidavit … But that’s what we’re dealing with,” said Meng’s lawyer Scott Fenton.

He told Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes that she should place “no value” on Chang’s affidavit.

“Of utmost concern in this case is that S/Sgt Chang is not merely failing to testify through no fault of his own or for some justifiable tactical choice of the DOJ [Department of Justice]. To the contrary – he is refusing to appear for cross-examination,” Meng’s lawyers said in their written argument.