by Karen Freifeld and Kenneth Li
(Reuters) – Chinese telecoms giant Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou has reached an agreement with US prosecutors to end bank fraud proceedings against her in the United States, it has been learned sources familiar with the matter, which should allow him to leave Canada.
Meng Wanzhou was arrested in December 2018 at Vancouver Airport, on a United States warrant, where she is charged with bank fraud and electronic fraud, including deceiving HSBC and other banks over contracts negotiated by Huawei in Iran in violation of US sanctions.
U.S. officials have announced plans to discuss a deal with Huawei’s chief financial officer in federal court in Brooklyn, a court document released on Friday shows.
The agreement only concerns Meng Wanzhou and the lawsuits against Huawei remain as they are, according to another person familiar with the matter.
This settlement would put an end to one of the many disputes between the United States and China.
The deal could also pave the way for the release of two Canadians, businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig, who are being held in China after being arrested shortly after Meng Wanzhou was detained.
In August, a Chinese court sentenced Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison for espionage.
A spokesperson for Huawei declined to comment, as did a spokesperson for the Brooklyn DA’s office. One of Meng Wanzhou’s attorneys could not be reached immediately for comment.
Meng Wanzhou, who claims his innocence and fights against his extradition to the United States, is under house arrest in Vancouver.
(Report by Karen Freifeld and Kenneth Li, with Chris Sanders and Edward Tobin; French version Camille Raynaud, edited by Bertrand Boucey)
–
