孟晚洲-关键的引渡决定前数日-出现“不明智的”公开露面。
Meng Wanzhou — days from crucial extradition decision — makes ‘ill-advised’ public appearance
The embattled Huawei executive appeared to project an air of confidence during a bizarre photo shoot this weekend, days before a B.C. Supreme Court judge is expected to deliver a key decision in her extradition case.
www.thestar.com
VANCOUVER—She arrived at the Vancouver courthouse steps with friends and family and flashed a thumbs-up and a “V” sign — perhaps for victory, or for peace — as a photographer snapped pictures.
Outwardly, a smiling Meng Wanzhou did not appear worried.
The bizarre moment, captured by CBC News this past weekend, seemed somewhat apropos for an extradition case that has drawn international political and legal intrigue. It came just days before a pivotal B.C. Supreme Court ruling in the
Huawei executive’s Canadian saga — one that could set her free, or just set the stage for the next round of legal arguments.
One legal observer said the staged photo shoot is not something he would’ve advised his client to do.
“I think it’s probably ill advised to have done it so blatantly,” Gary Botting, a criminal defence lawyer and extradition expert, said Monday.
“I would have said, ‘Keep a relatively low profile and everything should be normal until the judge has a chance to make her judgment public.’ ”
Canadian authorities arrested Meng, the Chinese telecom giant’s chief financial officer and daughter of billionaire entrepreneur Ren Zhengfei, at Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 1, 2018, at the behest of U.S. authorities, who have charged her with fraud-related crimes for allegedly violating American sanctions against Iran.
The United States alleges Meng lied to HSBC, one of Huawei’s bankers, about the company’s relationship with its Iran-based affiliate, Skycom, putting the financial institution at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against the country.
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