Meng Hongwei: China confirms detention of Interpol chief

[sandensea]

Source: BBC News

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, 64, 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.

His family had not heard from him since he left Interpol headquarters on 25 September.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-45777681

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The man who knew too much? Interpol head Meng Hongwei in his native China shortly before he was apprehended.

[dalton99a]

1. Maybe they just want his Interpol passwords

[sandensea]

2. Especially those on any China-related files

Some of which, I might add, probably contain interesting Cheeto-related information.

Something about Ivanka and emoluments...

[Nitram]

3. I wonder if he made some moves that were a little too global, and not acceptable to the Chinese

leadership...

[dalton99a]

4. Interpol announces his immediate resignation

Link to tweet

[sandensea]

5. Intriguing. Thanks for the update, dalton99.

Makes one wonder if there was indeed real susbtance to China's allegations against him - of if this was more geopolitical games (of the kind we in the U.S. certainly have a lot of experience with ourselves).

[woundedkarma]

6. My random two cents...

It is interesting.. my thought is that if you're interpol's pres and a country snaps you up... resigning is a good way to keep interpol operating.

He is obviously screwed .. might be detained for a while.. might be executed who knows. It's what an honest, honorable head of law enforcement type might do.

On the other hand, you could be right.. but come on.. it's china.

[sandensea]

7. Right. This could very well be a bad-faith prosecution on China's part

As you know, the latest big trend in geopolitics is lawfare - the weaponizing of the judiciary in one's country (or in others, if you have influence over them) against opponents and people who, like Meng, become an obtancle or a proverbial pebble in the shoe.

Railroading them's the easy part. And though I'm not sure (as I'm not really familiar w/ the case), that could very well be the case here.

Either way, All the Best to Meng and his family.

[Blue_Tires]

8. Rival nations are getting bolder

We have a weak, ineffectual child as our leader, every government institution serves only to entrench his power and the State Department has a skeleton staff made up of lackeys...