Timetabling of Meng Wanzhou extradition hearing further delayed

Lawyers for Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou and the Canadian government returned to the Supreme Court of British Columbia for a brief hearing on 28 April 2021. The purpose of the hearing was to set a new timetable for the remaining phase of Ms Meng’s extradition hearing following the Court’s decision, on 21 April 2021, to grant a defence application for a three month adjournment. It was expected that Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes’ reasons for allowing the adjournment would also be read at the hearing but a last minute change of courtroom meant that reporters, and at least one lawyer, were excluded from the short hearing.

A Huawei spokesperson said the adjournment was necessary to allow Ms Meng’s legal team time to review and file new materials handed over to the defence by HSBC following the settlement of a claim between Huawei and HSBC in Hong Kong’s High Court.

Ms Meng is charged in the US with wire fraud and bank fraud in connection with the alleged violation of US sanctions on Iran. Central to the US case is a 2013 meeting between Ms Meng and HSBC officials at which she is alleged to have misled the bank as to the true nature of Huawei’s relationship with its subsidiary, Skycom, and its activities in Iran. Ms Meng denies misleading the bank and her legal team hopes that this new evidence will bolster the claim that the US misrepresented the nature of the evidence against her to Canadian authorities.

The proceedings were adjourned until 7 May 2021 when it is anticipated a firm timetable for the progress of the case will be agreed.