Canadian court rules that Meng Wanzhou, CFO of Huawei, will face extradition proceedings to the United States

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Canadian Politics, Headlines, NNP News Wednesday, May 27th, 2020

(NNP) The CFO of Huawei, the Chinese tech giant, Meng Wanzhou, has lost her bid for Canadian authorities to drop proceedings of her extradition to the United States. The provincial Supreme Court in British Columbia today dismissed her lawyers’ arguments that the charges laid against her by the United States do not constitute criminal offense in Canada, a principle known as “double criminality.”

Her lawyers needed to prove this essential point that the charges laid against her by the United State are not applicable criminal offenses in Canada to dismiss the case. The sitting Associate Chief Justice, Heather Holmes, stated, “The effects of the U.S. sanctions may properly play a role in the double criminality analysis as part of the background or context against which the alleged conduct is examined.”

Ms. Wanzhou was arrested by Canadian authorities on December 1, 2018 when she flew into Vancouver on her way to Mexico on holidays. The United States accused her of violating sanctions against Iran by conducting business with the Islamic State. Her arrest has dampened relations between China and Canada, with China arresting two Canadians in a move considered by many as retaliatory. China, however, has denied those claims saying the men jeopardized Chinese national security.

The men have been held without bail while Meng Wanzhou, daughter of the founder of Huawei, is free on bail living in her Vancouver mansion. China temporarily blocked canola and pork exports from Canada citing safety concerns with inspection certificates, a move that was considered as part of the effort to pressure Canada to release Ms. Wanzhou.

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has repeated lectured China on the principle of separation of power, saying the judiciary in Canada is independent from political interference. With this ruling, Ms. Wanzhou’s extradition hearing will continue.

-New Nigerian Politics wp_posts