Interpol chief Meng Hongwei under investigation, China says

By Tony Munroe

 

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

 

BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Sunday that it was investigating Meng Hongwei, after the head of the global law enforcement organisation Interpol and Chinese vice minister for security was reported missing in France.

 

Meng 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 was 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 Sept. 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".

 

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

 

Local French media reported that Meng's wife had issued a brief statement from a hotel in Lyon, in which she expressed her concerns over the situation.

 

"As long as I can't see my husband in front of me, speaking to me, I can't have any confidence," Grace Meng was quoted as saying by French TV stations and Sunday newspapers which added she made the comments with her back to a TV camera, in order to hide her appearance.

 

Reuters could not confirm those comments attributed to her.

 

Meng, 64, was named to the post of Interpol president in late 2016, part of a broader Chinese effort to gain leadership positions in key international organisations.

 

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

 

Interpol, which groups 192 countries and is usually focused on finding people who are missing or wanted, is run on a day-to-day basis by its secretary general, Juergen Stock.

 

When Meng was named Interpol's president, 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.

 

Under President Xi Jinping, China has been engaged in a crackdown on corruption.

 

(Reporting by Tony Munroe; Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta in Paris; Editing by Edmund Blair and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-08

I saw this story in the UK Telegraph a few days ago. The headline there said "Head of Interpol goes missing."

One wit posted a comment, asking what had happened to the rest of his body.

 

Going 'missing' in China always means you are in a holding Camp somewhere getting water boarded.  With the right amount of International pressure now his body will be returned.  Seriously who is EVER going to stand up to China now, The US, France ????  think not.

6 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I saw this story in the UK Telegraph a few days ago. The headline there said "Head of Interpol goes missing."

One wit posted a comment, asking what had happened to the rest of his body.

 

I find no humour in the pain, misery and misfortune of others. No thanks for posting such a juvenile message.

Edited October 8, 20187 yr by Benmart

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Meng's wife had issued a brief statement from a hotel in Lyon, in which she expressed her concerns over the situation.

 

"As long as I can't see my husband in front of me, speaking to me, I can't have any confidence

 

What is she, 17?