Family of vanished Interpol chief under French protection

The family of vanished Interpol president has been put under protection by French police after his wife recieved ‘threats’.

Meng Hongwei in Singapore in July last year. Picture: AP

Concern is increasing about the disappearance of Interpol president Meng Hongwei, who has not been seen for more than a week since leaving France for China late last month.

Mr Meng’s family in France has been placed under police protection following what French Interior Ministry officials said were threats to his wife.

Interpol and Paris have asked Chinese law enforcement officials for clarification of Mr Meng’s status, expressing concerns for his wellbeing after his wife raised the alarm.

“France is puzzled about the situation of Interpol’s president and concerned at the threats made to his wife,” the Interior Ministry said.

His disappearance — which has not been reported in Chinese state media — has raised ­serious concerns for his future.

The South China Morning Post reported Mr Meng, who had been a vice-minister in China’s Ministry of Public Security, was ­arrested on his return to China and was under investigation.

The arrest comes on the heels of the disappearance from public view by China’s highest-paid act­ress, Fan Bingbing, who has not been seen for three months. Authorities announced last week the actress had been investigated for tax evasion and was to be hit with fines and back taxes of $US130 million. Fan must pay up by the end of the year or risk criminal charges and jail. The once high-flying Fan then issued a grovelling apology on her official social media account. She still has not been seen in public and there is speculation her career is in ruins.

The detention of the 37-year- old actress, who starred in an X-Man movie with Australia’s Hugh Jackman and was a brand ambassador for Australian-based health product company Swisse as well as a string of European ­designer brands, was intended to send a message to the Chinese entertainment industry that the government was going to strictly enforce its tax code.

Mr Meng, 64, was appointed as the head of Interpol, which is based in Lyons, in 2016 and was due to serve in the role until 2020. He was a member of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee until April.

His last official engagement was on August 23 when he met a senior official in the Singapore government.

President Xi Jinping has cracked down on corruption since he came to power in 2012. More than a million public officials and party members have been disciplined in some way under his presidency.

Mr Meng’s appointment was met with concern by human rights groups, which worried that he might use Interpol’s powers to forcibly repatriate Chinese dissidents and fugitives.

Interpol has issued a red not­ice for Chinese fugitive tycoon Guo Wengui at Beijing’s request in April. Mr Guo, after falling out with the Communist Party leadership, fled to the US last year.

Mr Meng’s disappearance is raising concerns that Chinese ­officials working with international groups might be subject to outside pressure.

However observers note that this situation is a little different as it appears that threats have also been made to Mr Meng’s family in France.

Mr Meng was the first Chinese to be appointed as president of Interpol. He had spent the past 40 years working in criminal justice and policing in China, including in the field of drugs and counter-terrorism.