Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou sues Canada over detention
- Meng asserts authorities detained, searched and interrogated her before telling her she was under arrest
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Lauren Gardner on politico.com on March 3, 2019.
Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou is suing Canada and two of its federal agencies, alleging that authorities detained and interrogated her before declaring her under arrest.
Canada decided Friday to move forward with proceedings to extradite Meng to the US on charges of violating US sanctions against Iran by deliberately misleading banks about the company’s business dealings there.
Extradition could be a long process, and Meng’s lawsuits could draw it out further.
Meng’s civil claim, filed Friday in a British Columbia court, alleges that Canadian authorities held and interrogated her before notifying her that she was under arrest.
The suit also targets the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A spokesperson for Department of Justice Canada referred a request for comment to the Canadian Border Services Agency, which did not immediately respond.
Ottawa’s decision came despite mounting pressure from China, which has included the detention of several Canadian citizens and a foreign ministry spokesperson questioning the credibility of the North American nation’s government on Friday.
The pressure hasn’t let up.
Meng’s extradition a ‘serious political incident’, China says
“China strongly opposes Canada’s insistence to proceed with the so-called extradition of Ms. Meng Wanzhou, and it has made a solemn representation,” the ministry said in a statement released on Saturday morning.
“It is a serious political incident. We again urge the US to rescind its request for the extradition of Ms Meng and call for Canada to release her immediately.”
Meng, a daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, is due back in court in British Columbia on Wednesday.
Canadian officials conducted a “thorough and diligent review of the evidence” and determined it was sufficient to present the case to a judge for extradition, the Canadian Justice Department said Friday.
The move does not reflect a judgment that Meng is either guilty or innocent, the government said.
The issue could come up directly between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping when they meet later this month in an ongoing trade negotiations.
