French police investigate Interpol chief, missing on home visit to China

[rooster59]

French police investigate Interpol chief, missing on home visit to China

By Ingrid Melander

 

INTERPOL President Meng Hongwei poses during a visit to the headquarters of International Police Organisation in Lyon, France, May 8, 2018. Picture taken May 8, 2018. Jeff Pachoud/Pool via Reuters

 

PARIS (Reuters) - French police are investigating the disappearance of Interpol chief, Meng Hongwei, who was reported missing after travelling from France to his native China, and they have placed his wife under protection after threats, the interior ministry said on Friday.

 

Meng's wife contacted police in Lyon, the French city where the international police agency is based, after not hearing from him since Sept. 25, and after receiving threats by phone and on social media, the ministry said.

 

A person familiar with the investigation into the disappearance said the initial working assumption of Western investigators was that Meng had antagonised Chinese authorities in some way and had been detained as a result.

 

"France is puzzled about the situation of Interpol's president and concerned about the threats made to his wife," the ministry said.

 

Meng's wife, who has remained in Lyon with their children according to police sources, was receiving protection, it said, adding: "Exchanges with Chinese authorities continue."

 

There have been several cases in recent years of senior Chinese officials vanishing without explanation, only for the government to announce weeks or even months later that they have been put under investigation, often for suspected corruption.

 

It was not clear why Meng, 64, who was named Interpol's president two years ago, had travelled to China.

 

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post quoted an unnamed source as saying Meng had been taken for questioning as soon as he landed there, but it also was not clear why.

 

French police are investigating what is officially termed in France a "worrying disappearance".

 

Interpol, which groups 192 countries and which is usually focused on finding people who are missing or wanted, said it was aware of reports about Meng's "alleged disappearance".

 

"This is a matter for the relevant authorities in both France and China," the agency said in a statement.

 

Presidents of Interpol are seconded from their national administrations and remain in their home post while representing the international policing body.

 

Meng is listed on the website of China's Ministry of Public Security as a vice-minister, but lost his seat on its key Communist Party Committee in April, the South China Morning Post reported.

 

Reuters was not immediately able to reach China's Ministry of Public Security for comment.

 

Meng has almost 40 years' experience in criminal justice and policing, and has overseen matters related to legal institutions, narcotics control and counter-terrorism, according to Interpol's website.

 

Interpol staff can carry special passports to help speed deployment in emergency situations but that would not have given Meng any specific rights or immunity in his home country.

 

When Meng was named Interpol's president in Nov. 2016, human rights groups expressed concern that Beijing might try to leverage his position to pursue dissidents abroad. Beijing has in the past pressed countries to arrest and deport to China citizens it accuses of crimes, from corruption to terrorism.

 

At the time, Amnesty International called Meng's appointment "at odds with Interpol's mandate to work in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

 

Diplomats say the role of Interpol president is largely ceremonial, with day-to-day work carried out by its secretary general, Juergen Stock, and his staff.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-06

 

 

[George Bowman]

37 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

It was not clear why Meng, 64, who was named Interpol's president two years ago, had travelled to China.

Forget the Red Bull, let's see if Interpol can find their president...

[DoctorG]

This is one of those stories to watch with interest, but it might take a while.

[car720]

1 hour ago, DoctorG said:

This is one of those stories to watch with interest, but it might take a while.

This is so true.  My wife has just told me that his colleague who was the senior police person in China, (translated from my wife) was also arrested supposedly for corruption but everyone believes it is a plot to kill or at least dethrone Xi Jingping.

[lannarebirth]

11 minutes ago, car720 said:

This is so true.  My wife has just told me that his colleague who was the senior police person in China, (translated from my wife) was also arrested supposedly for corruption but everyone believes it is a plot to kill or at least dethrone Xi Jingping.

 

Or maybe to expose the corruption in Xi Jingping's family.  One of several prominent Chinese "disappeared" this month. Not to mention the untold thousands of less prominent Chinese that go missing every month. 

[car720]

The big topic in our house every day is how will we ever get rid of the party and if we do, who will replace them.  Democracy won't work there as the people themselves have known nothing but dynastic rule since forever.  Hard call.

[Tailwagsdog]

Ha ha ha!  the former head of chinese state security has been 'disappeared' by his own previous department. Well at least he can rely on a fair trial .. 'communist party style'

[Basil B]

1 hour ago, Tailwagsdog said:

Ha ha ha!  the former head of chinese state security has been 'disappeared' by his own previous department. Well at least he can rely on a fair trial .. 'communist party style'

His Kidneys already for sale on Alibaba... 

[Tailwagsdog]

1 hour ago, car720 said:

The big topic in our house every day is how will we ever get rid of the party and if we do, who will replace them.  Democracy won't work there as the people themselves have known nothing but dynastic rule since forever.  Hard call.

The east europeans , ukranians and even the russians took to democracy with vigour, most are still actively defending their democracy, however the forces of evil won't let go so easily. Putin & Xi of China will do anything to hang onto power. You have to cut the head off the snake. old chinese proverb

[tonbridgebrit]

Let's get real here. Meng Hongwei is obviously a Chinese person. Most people do feel, "how could Interpol be stupid enough to allow a Chinese person to be it's chief".   ????

[Ctkong]

14 minutes ago, tonbridgebrit said:

Let's get real here. Meng Hongwei is obviously a Chinese person. Most people do feel, "how could Interpol be stupid enough to allow a Chinese person to be it's chief".   ????

Diplomats say the role of Interpol president is largely ceremonial, with day-to-day work carried out by its secretary general, Juergen Stock, and his staff.

china is also a member of Interpol. 

[car720]

20 hours ago, Tailwagsdog said:

The east europeans , ukranians and even the russians took to democracy with vigour, most are still actively defending their democracy, however the forces of evil won't let go so easily. Putin & Xi of China will do anything to hang onto power. You have to cut the head off the snake. old chinese proverb

This is agreed, however in this case just who will do the cutting.  Until the snake is dead the ones who are afraid of it will defend it.  A foreign power dare not because the Chinese will push the button and internally nobody is ever allowed to be strong enough.

[Basil B]

Found...

 

Quote

China has confirmed it is holding the missing head of Interpol, Meng Hongwei.

Beijing said he was under investigation by the country's anti-corruption body for unspecified breaches of the law.

Mr Meng, who is also listed as a vice-minister of public security in China, was reported missing after travelling from the city of Lyon in France, where Interpol is based, to China.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-45777681

[car720]

My missus did a bit more digging and it seems that this guy is a real crook in his own right and that the Chinese do hold the right to book him as a common criminal, as all other countries would do.