A Canadian court has granted bail to Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou after her arrest in Vancouver on behalf of US authorities.
Huawei’s global CFO has been granted bail in a Canadian court ahead of her extradition hearing after being arrested on behalf of United States authorities.
Following two and a half days of hearings, Justice William Ehrcke granted bail to Meng Wanzhou, who is also the daughter of the founder of Huawei, on Tuesday. Meng was arrested in Canada on December 1 while transferring flights in Vancouver, with the US accusing her of misleading multinational banks about Huawei’s control of a company operating in Iran.
The US has alleged that Huawei used a Hong Kong shell company to sell equipment in Iran, in breach of US trade sanctions, and misled banks about its business dealings in Iran.
In fighting for bail, Meng cited severe hypertension and fears for her health. A sworn affidavit by Meng also said she is innocent of the allegations and will contest them during trial in the US should she be extradited there.
Threatening “consequences” for Canada, China has criticised her arrest and demanded her immediate release. It is “totally up to Canada” what those consequences will be if it does not “correctly handle” the situation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Monday.
Canada had not informed China “at the first instance” of her arrest and detainment, despite the two countries having a consular agreement, and Meng has been denied proper access to medical attention, according to Lu.
“This has breached her human rights,” he said.
China then detained a former Canadian diplomat in Beijing, Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale confirmed.
