The case to extradite Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou from Canada to the United States can continue, judge rules
CNNNew York CNN Business — The extradition case of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou will continue following a crucial ruling from Canadian judge Heather HolmesonWednesday. Following a four-day hearing in Vancouver’s Supreme Court in January, Holmes ruled Wednesday that the US allegations meet the key Canadian extradition standard of “double criminality,” which examines whether the conduct alleged by the country requesting the extradition could be considereda crime under Canadian law. Holmes wrote in the ruling that Meng’s argument that double criminality was not met because of the application of US sanctions “would give fraud an artificially narrow scope in the extradition context.” Holmes added: “The double criminality requirement for extradition is capable of being met in this case. The effects of the US sanctions may properly play a role in the double criminality analysis as part of the background or context against which the alleged conduct is examined.” A spokesman for the US Department of Justice said in a statement on the ruling that “the United States thanks the Government of Canada for its continued assistance pursuant to the U.S./Canada Extradition Treaty in this ongoing matter.” A ‘grave political incident’ The extradition case has pulled Canada into political tensions between the United States and China. “The United States and Canada, by abusing their bilateral extradition treaty and arbitrarily taking forceful measures against Ms. Meng Wanzhou, gravely violated the lawful rights and interests of the said Chinese citizen,” the embassy’s statement read in part.