March 29, 2024, 2:26 am


SAM

Published:
2018-10-08 21:56:11 BdST

China confirms detention of Interpol chief


FT ONLINE

China’s antigraft watchdog said late on Sunday that the Chinese authorities were investigating Meng Hongwei, the head of the global law enforcement organisation Interpol who had been reported missing, for suspected violations of the law.

Meng, who is also a vice minister of public security in China, had been reported missing by his wife after travelling last month from France, where Interpol is based, to China.

“Public Security Ministry Vice Minister Meng Hongwei is currently under investigation by the National Supervisory Commission for suspected violations of law,” the Chinese anti-graft body said in a brief statement on its website.

The statement was the first from China since Meng’s disappearance had been reported in France on Friday.

When asked about the Chinese announcement on Sunday, France’s Interior Ministry said it had no information.

The French ministry said on Friday that Meng’s family had not heard from him since September 25, and the French authorities said his wife had been placed under police protection after receiving threats.

French police have been investigating what is officially termed in France a “worrying disappearance”.

What has Interpol said?

In a statement on its Twitter site, it said it had received the resignation with immediate effect.

Under its terms it has appointed senior vice-president Kim Jong-yang of South Korea as acting president.

A new president will be elected for the remaining two years of Meng's mandate at the general assembly in Dubai next month.

Interpol had said on Friday it had asked Beijing to clarify Meng’s situation. The organisation had no immediate comment on Sunday.

Chinese official to head Interpol

China's National Supervision Commission, which handles corruption cases involving public servants, said Meng was under investigation in a statement on its website.

Meng is the latest high-profile disappearance in China, where a number of top government officials, billionaires and even an A-list celebrity have vanished in recent months.

Earlier this week, actress Fan Bingbing, who disappeared in China in July, emerged with a public apology and a fine of 883 million yuan ($129m; £98.9m) for tax evasion and other offences.

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