Clarify on Meng’s status: Interpol to China

Beijing has remained silent over the mysterious disappearance of Meng Hongwei, who was last seen leaving for China in late September from the Interpol headquarters in Lyon, southeast France, a source close to the enquiry told.

“Interpol has requested through official law enforcement channels clarification from China’s authorities on the status of Interpol President Meng Hongwei,” Jurgen Stock, the secretary-general of the international police body said in a statement. “Interpol’s General Secretariat looks forward to an official response from China’s authorities to address concerns over the President’s well-being.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.

Citing an anonymous source, the South China Morning Post said authorities from the country’s disciplinary commission had snatched Meng upon arrival in Beijing. China’s recently established National Supervisory Commission holds sweeping powers to investigate the country’s public servants with few requirements for transparency.

Earlier on the day, a report said Interpol President Meng Hongwei has been detained in China for questioning as part of an investigation against him, a day after he was reported missing in his native country.

Meng, 64, the first Chinese head of the international law enforcement agency headquartered in France, was “taken away” for questioning by discipline authorities “as soon as he landed in China” last week, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted a source as saying.

Meng, who is also a vice-minister at China’s Ministry of Public Security, is under investigation in China, the Post reported amid mystery surrounding his disappearance after his wife reported to the French police that he had gone missing. The French police said on Friday that they have launched a probe for Meng after being contacted by his wife. It appears Meng’s wife was not informed about the detention.

Interpol, which is based in Lyon, said on Friday that it was aware of reports of Meng’s “alleged disappearance” and that the issue was a matter for the relevant authorities in France and China. Meng was last seen in France on September 29, according to reports from France.

While Meng is listed on the website of China’s Ministry of Public Security as a vice-minister, he lost his seat on its Communist Party Committee- its real decision-making body- in April, the Post reported.

Meng was appointed the head of Interpol in 2016. His appointment also sparked concern about China extending its crackdown on dissidents abroad. He is due to serve until 2020.