Ex-Interpol chief Meng Hongwei under investigation for taking bribes, says China

The detained Interpol boss who quit unexpectedly after vanishing from public sight is being investigated for taking bribes, Beijing announced today.

China’s ministry for public security said Meng Hongwei was being probed for “suspected violations of law” and that the action against him was “very timely, absolutely correct and rather wise”.

It added that the investigation had come about because of his “wilfulness”, and said he brought “trouble upon himself”.

Afterwards Interpol announced that Mr Meng, who is also vice minister for public security in China, had resigned from his position as president of the international crime-fighting agency.

It follows earlier confusion over Mr Meng’s fate following the disclosure by French judicial officials that he had gone missing while on a trip home to China.

Mr Meng’s wife Grace, who is in France, later said he had sent her an emoji of a knife shortly before his disappearance, which she believed was a sign that he was in danger.

He had also told her to wait for a call he never made.

Today’s revelation shows China is willing to extend its use of secretive detentions to ensnare even a senior public security official, casting a shadow over the image Beijing has sought to cultivate as a modern country governed by law.

It has made a series of high-profile arrests and detentions over alleged corruption.

Public security minister Zhao Lezhi chaired a meeting early today with senior officials of the ministry’s party committee to discuss Mr Meng’s case.

A statement issued afterwards suggested that Mr Meng is also being investigated for political lapses.

It indicated that the Communist Party member might have been tainted by former security chief and ex-politburo member Zhou Yongkang, who is serving a life sentence for corruption.

“We should resolutely oppose corruption and eliminate the pernicious influence of Zhou Yongkang,” the statement said, adding that officials “must always [be] absolutely loyal to the party”.

Officials have since said that Mr Zhou and other senior figures prosecuted in the anti-corruption clampdown were also accused of “conspiring openly to usurp party leadership”.