Canada court decision could end ‘Huawei Princess’ extradition saga

OTTAWA: A Canadian judge will deliver a key decision Wednesday on the extradition of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou that could set her free and help repair Canada-China relations.

Four days of legal arguments in January focused on whether US charges against the “Huawei Princess” would stand up in Canada, a key test for extradition.

Prosecutors accused her of commi ing fraud by lying to a US bank, which is a crime in both Canada and the United States.

But defence lawyers say the case hinges on violations of US sanctions against Iran, which Canada and other US allies have repudiated.

A verdict in Meng’s favour would throw a wrench into the US prosecution of China’s top tech firm for the alleged fraud as well as the of trade secrets from American companies.

Otherwise, Meng’s case would continue on to a second phase in June, followed by more hearings in September.

If she is discharged, the Crown would have 30 days to appeal British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Heather Holmes’s ruling on the so-called double criminality test.

But Meng would likely not have to stick around for an appeal to play out, said extradition lawyer Gary Bo ing.

“She’d be smart to leave the country,” he told AFP.

On Saturday, Meng took a premature victory lap, giving a thumbs up as she posed for pictures with family and friends on the steps of the Vancouver courthouse.

The eldest daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei was arrested in December 2018 during a flight stopover in Vancouver on a US warrant.

Beijing has signalled that her repatriation is a precondition for improved bilateral ties and its release of two Canadians detained on espionage suspicions.

The arrests of former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor nine days a er Meng was taken into custody have been widely decried as retribution.

While Meng is out on bail, the two Canadians remain in China’s opaque penal system.

China has also blocked billions of dollars’ worth of Canadian agricultural exports. —

— AFP file photo Photo shows Meng (centre) a er a short morning session that ended the fourth day of trial in her extradition case, leaves British Columbia Supreme Court with her security detail in Vancouver, British Columbia.