Huawei’s Sabrina Meng Wanzhou to learn fate in March after US files extradition request
- Meng appears in Vancouver court for bail review and learns next court date is March 6, but Canada must decide on extradition request by March 1
- US Justice Department had announced multiple charges against Meng, Huawei and two affiliates related to alleged sanctions violations
Canada said on Tuesday that it has received a formal request from the United States to extradite Sabrina Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies.
On Monday, US law enforcement officials announced 23 criminal charges against Huawei and Meng – including money laundering, fraud, conspiracy and intellectual property theft – and made the extradition request.
Meng made a brief appearance before the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver for a bail hearing on Tuesday. The judge, William Ehrcke, who granted her bail request last month, pushed back her next court appearance by one month, until March 6. He also approved Meng’s request for a change in who is financially responsible for her bail.
The Canadian Department of Justice has until March 1 to decide on the US extradition request.
The developments occurred just as China and the US are set to begin a new round of trade negotiations on Wednesday in Washington. While the US has repeatedly said that the Huawei case and trade talks are separate issues, the moves complicate the already tense battles Washington and Beijing have engaged in for months.
Meng, 46, a daughter of Huawei’s founder, was detained on December 1 at Washington’s request on suspicion of violating US sanctions against Iran. She is free on US$7.5 million bail in Vancouver pending extradition proceedings.