Meng Hongwei
Meng Hongwei 孟宏伟 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of Interpol | |
| Assumed office November 2016 | |
| Secretary-general | Jürgen Stock |
| Preceded by | Mireille Ballestrazzi |
| Deputy Minister of Public Security of China | |
| In office April 2004 – October 2018 | |
| Minister | Zhou Yongkang Meng Jianzhu Guo Shengkun Zhao Kezhi |
| Deputy Director of the State Oceanic Administration of China | |
| In office 18 March 2013 – 8 December 2017 | |
| Director | Liu Cigui Wang Hong |
| Director of the China Coast Guard | |
| In office 18 March 2013 – 8 December 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1953 (age 70–71) Harbin, Heilongjiang |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Political party | Communist Party of China |
| Residence(s) | Beijing Lyon |
| Alma mater | Peking University |
| Occupation | Politician, Police officer |
| Profession | Law |
Meng Hongwei (simplified Chinese: 孟宏伟; traditional Chinese: 孟宏偉; pinyin: Mèng Hóngweǐ; born November 1953) is a Chinese politician, police officer, and the President of Interpol. A former Communist Party of China official, he once served as Vice Minister of Public Security, and has 40 years of experience in criminal justice and policing.[1]
Meng was reported missing by his wife in October 2018 during his trip from France to China.
Early life
Meng was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang, in 1953.[2]
Education
Meng graduated from Peking University, where he majored in law.[3]
Career
Meng served as Vice Minister of Public Security and the Director of the China Coast Guard (2013–2017). On 18 March 2013, he was appointed as Deputy Director of China's State Oceanic Administration.[3] In April 2018, China withdrew his membership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party.[2]
Interpol
In 2004, Meng became the head of Interpol's China branch.[2]
On 10 November 2016, Meng was elected as President of Interpol.[4] Dissidents feared that China would use the organization to track exiled opponents.[5]
Disappearance
On 4 October 2018, Meng's wife reported him missing to the French police because she had not heard from him since 25 September.[1] He left France on 20 September and landed in China on an incoming flight from Stockholm.[5] His wife was threatened via phone and internet and was given police protection.[6] The South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong newspaper, reported that on his arrival in China, Meng was taken away for questioning by "discipline authorities".[1] Le Parisien, a French newspaper, added that he was under investigation in China suspected of favouring a company in a cybersecurity procurement.[5]
On 7 October 2018, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced that Meng was under investigation by the National Supervisory Commission for illegal conduct.[7]
References
- ^ a b c "Interpol chief Meng Hongwei vanishes on trip to China". BBC News. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ a b c Associated Press (5 October 2018). "Missing Interpol president deeply rooted in China's security". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Meng Hongwei 孟宏伟". China Vitae. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ 公安部副部长孟宏伟当选新一任国际刑警组织主席. Xinhuanet (in Chinese). Retrieved 2016-11-10.
- ^ a b c "Le président d'Interpol soupçonné de corruption par la Chine". Le Parisien (in French). 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ Chris Buckley; Aurelien Breedon (5 October 2018). "Head of Interpol Disappears, and Eyes Turn Toward China". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ Rudy Ruitenberg; Lynn Chen (7 October 2018). "Interpol President Is Being Probed for Illegal Conduct, China Says". Bloomberg. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
External link
Media related to Meng Hongwei at Wikimedia Commons