BEIJING – China has said the president of Interpol, who went missingshortly after arrival in his home country, is under investigation forpossible criminal activity, as Beijing broke its silence about his fate.
Meng Hongwei, who is also China´s vice minister of public security, “iscurrently under investigation on suspicion of violating the law”, accordingto a statement on the website of the National Supervisory Commission, whichhandles corruption cases involving public servants.
Meng, the first Chinese president of Interpol, was last heard from onSeptember 25 as he left Lyon — where the international police organisationis based — for China.
His disappearance was disclosed by French officials on Friday but China hadremained tight-lipped about his status until now.
Meng had lived with his wife and two children in France since being electedInterpol president in 2016.
The agency´s secretary general Juergen Stock, who oversees day-to-dayoperations, said Saturday that it was seeking “clarification” on hiswhereabouts from Chinese authorities.
It is the latest high-profile disappearance in China, where a number of topgovernment officials, billionaire business magnates and even an A-listcelebrity have vanished for weeks or months at a time.
When — or if — they reappear, it is often in court.
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Speaking to reporters Sunday in France, Meng´s wife said she feared thather husband´s life was in danger.
“This matter belongs to the international community,” Meng told a pressconference.
China´s recently established National Supervisory Commission holds sweepingpowers to investigate the country´s public servants with few requirementsfor transparency.
Although the commission did not detail the allegations against Meng, itsmandate is to investigate corruption cases as part of Chinese President XiJinping´s anti-graft campaign.
Some critics of the effort — which has punished more than one millionofficials — say it also functions as a tool for Xi to eliminate hispolitical rivals. – APP/AFP
