China: Hong Kong govt can decide on Nirav Modi’s arrest
BEIJING: China on Monday said the Hong Kong government was equipped to deal with the arrest and extradition of fugitive jeweller Nirav Modi under relevant laws, indicating that it was unlikely to directly interfere with the legal process.
Hong Kong, one of the ‘special administration regions’ (SAR) of China, is where high-profile diamond merchant Modi is said to be hiding following allegations that he defrauded the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) of around $ 2 billion.
India has submitted a request to the Hong Kong government’s department of justice for Modi’s provisional arrest.
China’s ministry of foreign affairs (MFA) was vague when asked on Monday whether the Mainland or central government would help in bringing Modi to justice.
“According to the one country two systems and basic law of Hong Kong Special Administration Region, HKSAR under the assistance and authorisation of the central government, the HKSAR can make proper arrangement on judicial mutual assistance with other countries,” MFA spokesperson, Geng Shuang said on Monday.
Geng said India would have to follow Hong Kong’s legal process. “If India makes relevant request to the HKSAR, we believe HKSAR will follow the basic law and relevant laws and under relevant judicial agreements with India with the relevant issue,” Geng added.
“The ministry has sought the provisional arrest of Nirav Deepak Modi by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” V K Singh, minister of state for external affairs told Parliament on Thursday.
Singh added India had submitted the request for Modi’s arrest to Hong Kong on March 23.
The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post had reported, quoting an anonymous source, that Indian authorities had “reason to believe that he (Modi) is in Hong Kong”; the provisional arrest would be the precursor to an extradition request.