Huawei exec faces extradition to U.S.
CFO accused of potential violation of Iran sanctions
Huawei Technologies Co.’s Chief Financial Officer Wanzhou Meng was arrested in Vancouver in connection with potential violations by the Chinese-based company of U.S. sanctions on Iran, Canada’s Department of Justice said.
Meng, who is also the deputy chairwoman of the company and a daughter of the founder, is facing potential extradition to the U.S., Ian McLeod, a Canada Justice Department spokesman, said in an email.
A bail hearing has been set for Friday. Her arrest Dec. 1 came after the U.S. Department of Justice in April opened an investigation into whether the smartphone and telecommunications giant sold equipment to Iran despite sanctions on exporting to the region.
The arrest was reported earlier by Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper.
The U.S. Justice Department declined to comment about the arrest.
A spokeswoman for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred questions to the country’s justice department.
Huawei, in a statement, said the arrest was made on behalf of the U.S. so Meng could be extradited to “face unspecified charges” in the Eastern District of New York.
“The company has been provided very little information regarding the charges and is not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms. Meng,” Huawei said. “The company believes the Canadian and U.S. legal systems will ultimately reach a just conclusion. Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations where it operates, including applicable export control and sanction laws and regulations of the UN, U.S. and EU.”
U.S. authorities in 2016 began voicing concerns that Huawei and others could install back doors in their equipment that would let them monitor users in the U.S. Huawei has denied those allegations. The Pentagon stopped offering Huawei’s devices on U.S. military bases citing security concerns.