U.S. officially files criminal charges against Huawei executive

By Estefania Duran and The Associated Press

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Meng Wanzhou has been officially charged two months after she was arrested at YVR Airport.

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a total of 23 charges against Chinese Telecom giant Huawei.

Charges include bank and wire fraud, and conspiring to obstruct a grand jury.

Prosecutors claim that the telecom giant used a Hong Kong company to sell equipment in Iran.

RELATED: China demands US drop Huawei extradition request with Canada

Prosecutors also allege that Huawei stole trade secrets, including the technology behind a robotic device that T-Mobile used to test smartphones, prosecutors said. A jury in Seattle ruled that Huawei had misappropriated the robotic technology from T-Mobile’s lab in Washington state.

“It’s important to understand that Miss. Meng has been charged based upon her own personal conduct and not because of actions or misconduct by other Huawei employees,” said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Richard Donoghue.

This comes as the U.S. seeks to extradite Wanzhou, who was placed under house arrest in Vancouver.

“The United States is currently seeking her extradition,” said Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. “We’re deeply grateful to the government of Canada for its assistance and its steadfast commitment to the rule of law.”

The Canadian Department of Justice has confirmed that it has received a formal request from the U.S. for extradition.

Her arrest early last month has prompted unrest between Ottawa and Beijing.

  • With files from Cormac MacSweeney, Sonia Aslam, Martin MacMahon 

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today