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Huawei CFO files lawsuit against Canada police, border official over ‘unconstitutional’ arrest

Monday, 04 March 2019 6:45 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 04 March 2019 7:36 AM ]

In this courtroom sketch by Jane Wolsak and released to AFP by the artist, Meng Wanzhou (L), Huawei's chief financial officer, speaks with lawyer David Martin in the courtroom in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on December 10, 2018.

Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou has filed a lawsuit against Canadian border and police authorities for “violating her constitutional rights” while arresting her at a Vancouver airport at the request of the US late last year.

Her lawyers Howard Mickelson and Allan Doolittle said in a statement on Sunday that Meng, the Chinese tech giant’s CFO and daughter of its founder, suffered “serious breaches of her constitutional rights” during her arrest at the Vancouver International Airport on December 1, 2018.

Meng, the lawyers said, is “seeking damages for misfeasance in public office and false imprisonment” in the lawsuit filed with British Columbia’s Supreme Court on Friday.

Washington has accused Meng of fraud and violating anti-Iran bans. Huawei has, however, rejected any wrongdoing.

PressTV-Canada nabs Huawei CFO for ‘breaking’ US bans on Iran

China has protested the arrest in Canada of the Chinese chief financial officer of telecom giant Huawei on charge of violating the US sanctions on Iran.

The lawsuit says Meng was interrogated by custom officials for three hours without knowing the reason behind her arrest. At the same time, the officials searched through her phone, computer and luggage in breach of Meng’s constitutional rights, it adds.

Meng’s lawyers believe the detention was “unlawful” and “arbitrary.” They are seek damages from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the federal government.

The lawsuit was lodged on the same day that Canada formally launched the process to extradite Huawei’s chief financial officer to the United States.

The extradition process, however, could take several months or even years because Meng has the option to file appeals.

PressTV-China's top official warns West over 'ulterior motives'

China's top political advisory body has repudiated growing Western criticism of the country's methods, saying there are ulterior motives behind the "smear campaign."

Meng’s arrest sparked a row in Canada’s ties with China, which views the move as politically motivated and related to the rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

Following Meng’s detention, Beijing arrested two Canadian nationals and sentenced a third one to death over drug smuggling charges in what appeared to be a retaliatory move.

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