Huawei CFO Meng’s admissions can be used against company at criminal trial, US judge rules
The Chinese telecoms executive admitted the firm illegally conducted business in Iran as part of a 2021 deal to dismiss charges she faced
A top Huawei Technologies executive’s admission that the Chinese telecoms company illegally conducted business in Iran can be used in the coming US trial against Huawei, according to a judge’s ruling filed in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday.
Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou made the admission as part of a 2021 deal to dismiss the criminal charges she faced in the case. In a four-page statement of facts, Meng acknowledged lying to a financial institution about Huawei’s compliance with sanctions and export control law.
“Meng was – and is still – Huawei Tech’s CFO,” US District Judge Ann Donnelly wrote in ruling that the statement was admissible at trial.
“Huawei Tech should not be able to object that admitting the statement of its senior executive about her conduct in connection with her job – which Huawei Tech adopted – violates Huawei Tech’s rights.”
Donnelly rejected Huawei’s argument that prosecutors could not use Meng’s admission against it because the company was entitled to remain silent despite her statement. The judge also said it was unnecessary for Huawei to question her at trial.
A Huawei spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.