Voice of America
22 Jan 2020, 11:35 GMT+10
VANCOUVER - An extradition proceeding under way in Canada could lead to Chinese tech giant Huawei's chief financial officer being transferred to the United States to face charges related to sanctions violations.
Prosecutors are asking a British Columbia court to determine if charges against Meng Wanzhou are a case of "double criminality," which means they are crimes in both Canada and the United States. For someone to be extradited from Canada to the U.S., the charges would have to be recognized by both countries.
Meng was arrested by Canadian officials at the request of the U.S. and is accused of misleading U.S. banks and attempting to circumvent American sanctions against Iran while serving as the chief financial officer of Huawei, which was founded by her father.
Prosecutors allege the charges amount to fraud, which is illegal in both Canada and the United States.
Meng's defense says the accusations allege a violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran. Canada currently has no sanctions against doing business in Iran, and lawyers argue Meng could not be extradited based solely on violating U.S. sanctions.
If the court finds the charges are only about violating sanctions, the 47-year-old executive could be free to return to China.
If, instead, the court rules the charges amount to fraud, Meng could remain free on $7.7 million bail in one of her two mansions in Vancouver. Meng's next scheduled appearance would then take place in June. At that time, her defense attorneys would argue that Canadian authorities participated in an improper "covert criminal investigation" when she was arrested at Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 1, 2018, while transiting to Mexico.
Any decision in the case is subject to multiple levels of appeals.
Longtime Vancouver immigration lawyer and policy analyst Richard Kurland, who is not involved in the case, attended the hearing. Speaking outside the courthouse, he said those appeals can go on for years.
"Don't forget these cases are complex in law and in fact," Kurland said. "The Canadian system traditionally has appeals and, (in) extraditions where the litigants can afford it, that (can) run to 10 years and longer."
A decision on the current stage of the extradition proceedings may be announced at the end of this week or may be "reserved" for a later date.
Get a daily dose of Greek Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Greek Herald.
More InformationHONG KONG: China has fired back at the European Union in an escalating trade dispute by imposing new restrictions on medical device...
PARIS, France: A strike by French air traffic controllers demanding improved working conditions caused significant disruptions during...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: Saudi Aramco is exploring asset sales as part of a broader push to unlock capital, with gas-fired power plants among...
PARIS, France: Fast-fashion giant Shein has been fined 40 million euros by France's antitrust authority over deceptive discount practices...
GENEVA, Switzerland: A new United Nations report alleges that dozens of global corporations are profiting from and helping sustain...
LONDON/STOCKHOLM: The Persson family is ramping up its investment in the H&M fashion empire, fueling renewed speculation about a potential...
HONG KONG: China has fired back at the European Union in an escalating trade dispute by imposing new restrictions on medical device...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump is drawing praise from his core supporters after halting key arms shipments to Ukraine, a...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
Dhaka [Bangladesh], July 8 (ANI): A top Turkish defence industry executive arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday on a one-day visit to discuss...
Washington DC [US], July 8 (ANI): US President Donald Trump expressed cautious optimism about avoiding further military action against...
For seven months, we worked beneath the constant roar of drones, our notebooks filling with stories that blurred the line between reporting...