China confirms detention of Interpol president
Beijing confirmed that Meng Hongwei, president of Interpol and vice minister of China's Ministry of Public Security, is being detained for investigation on suspicion of illegal activities.
China announced late on October 7 that Meng Hongwei, the Chinese president of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), who went missing after returning home, is being investigated for suspected involvement in illegal activities, while Interpol said he had resigned, according toSouth China Morning Post.
The news came as Mr. Manh's wife expressed concern about her husband's life after receiving the last text message from his phone, accompanied by an emoji of a knife.
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| Mr. Meng is the president of Interpol and also the deputy minister of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security. Photo:AP. |
The wife, who lives in Lyon, France (where Interpol is headquartered), reported Mr. Manh, 64, missing more than a week ago. She said she had not heard from him since September 25, according to a statement from the French Interior Ministry.
While Beijing has not provided any further information about the detention, analysts say the fact that Beijing is willing to risk diplomatic relations by arresting a senior official in such a way represents a high risk. Mr. Meng is also a vice minister of China's Ministry of Public Security.
In an unusually brief announcement just before midnight on October 7, China's National Supervisory Commission said Mr. Meng was being investigated for suspected violations of state law, but did not elaborate.
Just hours later, Interpol said it had received Mr. Meng's resignation, with "immediate effect." The press release said that South Korean deputy director Kim Jong Yang would become acting director, before Interpol formally elects a new director at its general assembly in November in Dubai.
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| Ms. Meng did not want to show her face when meeting the press in Lyon, France, on October 7. Photo:AP. |
In Lyon, Ms. Meng spoke to reporters shortly before Beijing's announcement, expressing her desire for foreign governments to intervene, saying she feared her husband was in danger, according toAFP.
She said the last social media message she received from her husband was on September 25, saying "Wait for my call", accompanied by a knife emoji.
"This is a matter for the international community," she said in English at a press conference. "I'm not sure what happened to him."
On October 6, Interpol officially asked the Chinese government to clarify information about Mr. Meng's whereabouts, while French police said they were conducting a separate investigation.
According toXinhua News Agency, Mr. Meng is the first Chinese official to hold the position of Interpol president. He was appointed Interpol president for the 2016-2020 term and is currently serving as vice minister of China's Ministry of Public Security.
In April, Mr. Meng was not elected to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the country's top political body. According to the website of China's Ministry of Public Security, his last official appearance was on August 23 in a meeting with Mr. Li Zhonghan, a Singaporean official.