Meng Wanzhou, US Extradition Trial Begins... "Fraud Charges Are Just a Pretext"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The trial to decide whether Meng Wanzhou, CFO and Vice Chairwoman of China's Huawei, will be extradited to the United States began on the 20th (local time) in Canada. Meng's side argued that the charges are merely a pretext and that she should not be extradited to the U.S.

According to Bloomberg and other sources, Meng appeared at the court hearing held in Vancouver, Canada, on the day. The hearing was arranged to determine whether Meng's extradition to the U.S. is justified. Meng appeared at the trial wearing a black outfit with polka dots and an electronic ankle bracelet on her left ankle. Meng was arrested in Canada in December 2018 at the request of the U.S., and after being released on bail the same month, she stayed at her home in Vancouver wearing the electronic bracelet.

Meng's legal team argued in court that the charges brought by the U.S. against Meng do not meet the legal requirements for extradition under Canadian law, and that she should not be sent to the U.S. Foreign media reported that the legal issue in this trial is whether the extradition request for Meng meets the principle of "dual criminality." Dual criminality means that the crime subject to judicial cooperation must be punishable under the laws of both the requesting and requested countries. In other words, if the alleged crime against Meng is not a crime in Canada, she could be released.

The U.S. charged Meng with bank fraud, alleging that she lied to HSBC bank to violate U.S. sanctions against Iran and conduct transactions. In response, the defense argues that the dual criminality should be judged based on February of last year, when the Canadian government approved the initiation of the extradition process for Meng. At that time, Canada did not enforce Iran sanctions, so the transaction did not violate Canadian law.

Meng's lawyer Richard Peck stated, "The fraud is just a pretext," arguing that this case is essentially a sanctions violation disguised as fraud to facilitate Meng's extradition.