Meng Hongwei: Ex-Interpol boss has admitted taking 拢1.6m in bribes, China claims
Meng Hongwei went missing after travelling from France to China last year, and his wife claims the case is politically motivated.
Thursday 20 June 2019 10:11, UK
A former head of Interpol who disappeared after travelling from France to China has admitted taking $2m (拢1.6m) in bribes, according to a Chinese court.
Meng Hongwei resigned as president of the international crime-fighting agency after being detained by Chinese authorities following his disappearance last September.
The 65-year-old, who had been living in France, was reported missing by his wife, who said she feared for her husband's life after he sent her a cryptic message with an image of a knife.
Meng read a statement on Thursday in which he confessed to accepting bribes and expressed regret for his crime, according to a court in the northeastern city of Tianjin.
Although his confession will result in a conviction, it is not clear when a verdict and a sentence will be handed down.
Admitting guilt and expressing regret can result in slightly lighter punishment in China, although the country has been quick to hand out life sentences as it cracks down on corruption and political disloyalty under a campaign run directly by President Xi Jinping.
Meng was elected president of Interpol in 2016 and the agency was forced to ask China about his whereabouts last year after they were not informed of his detention.
The court said Meng had abused his positions, including as China's vice minister of public security and maritime police chief, to curry favour for others in return for bribes.
In March, the ruling Communist Party said its investigation into Meng found he spent "lavish" amounts of state funds, abused his power and refused to follow party decisions.
Meng has already been fired from his positions and kicked out of the Communist Party.
His wife Grace has been granted asylum in France where he had been stationed for Lyon-based Interpol.
She has accused Chinese authorities of creating a "fake case" against him for political reasons.
Mr Xi has presided over a sweeping corruption crackdown since coming to power in 2012, vowing to target "tigers" and "flies" - a reference to elite officials and ordinary bureaucrats.
The campaign has led to the jailing or punishment of thousands of officials and brought down dozens of senior party and military officials.
Beyond graft issues, the anti-corruption effort has taken aim at those who express doubt in public about party policies or are found lacking in political loyalty.
China has rebuffed criticism that the campaign is as much about settling political scores as about stamping out criminal acts.