Global manhunt for Interpol president feared held in China
THe president of interpol was at the centre of a global manhunt last night amid claims he had been detained in China.
Chinese Meng Hongwei, 64, was last seen a week ago boarding a flight to Beijing from his home near interpol headquarters in France.
After the 12-hour flight, his wife and children were unable to contact him and called police to raise the alarm. last night officials said they were looking for him in europe and Asia amid claims he had been put in custody by Chinese authorities.
Sources told the South China Morning Post that he was under investigation in his homeland and was being questioned.
The Hong Kong-based newspaper said it was not clear where he was being held.
The bizarre disappearance threatens to throw interpol – which co-ordinates international police efforts – into uproar if it is linked to a judicial Chinese inquiry. interpol’s main function is helping police forces in different countries to notify each other of wanted suspects.
The presidency is a largely ceremonial but influential post, involving vast amounts of international travel. Mr Meng Disappeared: Meng Hongwei sparked controversy on his 2016 appointment as activists said Beijing may put him under pressure to help them reach overseas dissidents.
Many thought it was inappropriate for a former Chinese public security minister to take over interpol’s £ 100million- plus annual budget.
He is still listed on the website of China’s public security ministry as a vice-minister, but he is believed to have lost his seat on the key Communist Party Committee in April.
in July last year, Mr Meng gave a speech on the importance of cracking down on cyber-crime, which observers said reflected his homeland’s views.
in a statement, interpol confirmed it was aware of reports over the president’s ‘alleged disappearance’. A spokesman said: ‘This is a matter for the relevant authorities in both France and China.’ French police sources told a news agency their investigation was into a ‘worrying disappearance’. They added that Mr Meng’s wife and children remain at their secure property in the lyon area.
Mr Meng, who was due to serve as president until 2020, has almost 40 years’ experience in criminal justice and policing, and has overseen issues related to narcotics control and counter-terrorism.
Beijing has in the past pressed other countries to arrest and deport back to China citizens it accuses of crimes including corruption and terrorism.
it is not the first time a senior Communist Party official has disappeared from the public eye without explanation.
in other cases the party eventually said the official was ‘under investigation’ before he was expelled for ‘disciplinary infractions’. Some have been jailed.
Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping came to power in 2012 more than a million party officials have been disciplined in some way. China is one of 192 interpol member countries and its police play a leading role.
interpol secretary general – Germany’s Jurgen Stock – is responsible for the international agency’s operations.