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France Media Agency
The executive of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei was arrested in early December 2018 at Vancouver airport at the request of the United States, which wants to try her for bank fraud. She had been released on bail and has since been living under close surveillance, with a nighttime curfew, electronic ankle bracelet, limited outings and always accompanied by security guards, in her luxurious Vancouver home.
She asked in a Vancouver court on Tuesday for a relaxation of the terms of her bail, citing fears related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Her husband, Liu Wiaozong, explained that Huawei’s chief financial officer feared catching COVID-19 from the security guards who accompany her on all her trips.
“I think my wife is at increased risk with COVID-19,” especially because she suffered from thyroid cancer and suffers from high blood pressure, he explained. When she moves outside, “I find that in general there are three [agents de sécurité] who accompany my wife in the vehicle […] and it can be different people every day ”.
M’s lawyersme Meng asked that their client be able to leave her home without being accompanied by security guards from a private company, Lions Gate Risk Management Group, mandated by the courts.
“Really worried”?
The representative of the Canadian government, opposed to any easing, for his part wondered if the couple were “really worried” about their health as they organized a private dinner with 14 diners at Christmas in a restaurant in the city, in apparent violation of the instructions of the health authorities.
“Are you aware that a gathering of more than six people for socializing reasons is not approved by BC’s anti-COVID-19 guidelines?” Asked Crown Prosecutor John Gibb-Carsley.
Mme Meng also posed, without a mask, for a group photo in court in May 2020, shortly before a court ruling she hoped would be in his favor.
Her husband also revealed that on this occasion, the Chinese consulate had chartered a Boeing 777 so that Mr.me Meng could fly to China if the court found him right, which was not the case.
The arrest of Mme Meng in 2018 sparked an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between Canada and China. A few days later, Beijing arrested two Canadians accused of espionage and detained since then.
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