Missing Interpol head Meng Hongwei resigns as China investigates possible law breaches
China has confirmed it is holding the missing head of Interpol, Meng Hongwei, while its anti-corruption body investigates him for unspecified breaches of the law.
The BBC reported last night that China's National Supervision Commission, which investigates cases of corruption involving public servants, confirmed on its website that it had detained Meng.
Meng was reported missing on 25 September when he left Lyon, France, where Interpol is based, to his native China.
Last night Interpol confirmed it had received Meng’s resignation and that South Korea’s Kim Jong Yang, who currently serves as vice president, would take Meng’s place while a long-term successor was found next month.
Statement by the INTERPOL General Secretariat on the resignation of
Meng Hongwei. pic.twitter.com/c2daKd9N39— INTERPOL (@INTERPOL_HQ) October 7, 2018
Meng’s disappearance follows that of Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, who issued an apology on social media after she was fined around 883 million yuan (£98.9m) for tax evasion and other offences.
Last night Meng’s wife spoke to journalists to say she thought he was in danger, turning her back away from cameras to protect her identity.
On the day he went missing she said Meng sent her a message saying “wait for my call”, accompanied by a knife emoticon.