U.S. seeks Huawei CFO's extradition in violation of Iran sanctions

Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The chief financial officer of China's Huawei Technologies is facing extradition from Canada to the United States on suspicion she violated U.S. trade sanctions against Iran.

Wanzhou Meng, the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei, was arrested Saturday in Vancouver at the request of U.S. authorities, the Canadian Justice Department confirmed to The Globe and Mail.

A bail hearing was set for Friday, Ian McLeod, a Canadian Justice Department spokesman, said in an email to Bloomberg.

Huawei is the world's largest telecommunications manufacturer with revenue of $92.55 billion in 2017, according to Statistica.

Meng, 46, faces "unspecified charges in the Eastern District of New York" and was arrested when she was transferring flights in Canada, Huawei said in a statement to The Globe and Mail.

"The company has been provided with very little information regarding the charges and is not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms. Meng," Huawei added. "The company believes the Canadian and U.S. legal systems will ultimately reach a just conclusion."

In April, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into whether Huawei, which manufactures smartphones and other electronics, sold equipment to Iran despite sanctions on exporting to the region.

In August, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill banning the government from using Huawei technology based on the security concerns. U.S. authorities were concerned that Huawei and other companies could install equipment in the devices that would let them monitor users in the United States. Huawei has denied those allegations.

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said she had not violated Canadian or U.S. law.

"The Chinese side firmly opposes to and strongly protests over such kind of actions which seriously harmed the human rights of the victim," the embassy said in a statement. "The Chinese side has lodged stern representations with the U.S. and Canadian side, urged them to immediately correct the wrongdoing and restore the personal liberty of Ms. Meng Wanzhou. We will closely follow the development of the issue and take all measures to resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizen."

Meng was appointed CFO of Huawei in 2011.

"The arrest of Huawei's CFO by the Canadian government for potential violations of Iran sanctions is welcome and I urge prompt extradition to the U.S.," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said in a statement to The Globe. "Huawei has direct ties to the Chinese government and Communist Party, has long posed a serious risk to U.S. national security, and I continue to strongly urge Canada to reconsider Huawei's inclusion in any aspect of its 5G development, introduction and maintenance."