20 Facts About Meng Hongwei

Meng Hongwei is a former Chinese politician and police officer who was the president of Interpol from 2016 to 2018.

Meng Hongwei served as vice-minister of Public Security in China from 2004 to 2018.

Meng Hongwei entered the workforce in 1972 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1975.

Meng Hongwei graduated from Peking University with a bachelor's degree in law in 1983.

Meng Hongwei has 40 years of experience in criminal justice and policing.

Meng Hongwei served as Vice-Minister of Public Security from 2004 until his arrest in 2018.

Meng Hongwei served as Director of the Maritime Police Bureau and deputy director of China's State Oceanic Administration from 2013 until 2017.

In 2004, Meng Hongwei became the head of Interpol's China branch.

Meng Hongwei was elected as President of Interpol on 10 November 2016, becoming the first Chinese head of the agency.

Meng Hongwei's election was viewed as a success for China's ambitions to gain influence within international organisations.

Meng Hongwei left Sweden on 18 September 2018, and landed in China on a flight from Stockholm on 19 September.

The South China Morning Post reported that Meng Hongwei had been taken away for questioning by "discipline authorities" on his arrival in China.

Meng Hongwei was given police protection after being threatened by phone and Internet.

The next day, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced that Meng Hongwei was being investigated by the National Supervisory Commission, an anti-corruption agency, for allegedly taking bribes, and that a task force would be set up to pursue his alleged associates.

Interpol's press release did not mention whether Meng Hongwei had resigned under duress.

Grace Meng Hongwei has threatened Interpol with legal action over its lack of investigation into the authenticity of the resignation.

On 26 October 2018, Meng Hongwei was removed from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body.

On 27 March 2019, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission announced that Meng Hongwei was expelled from the CCP and removed from all posts.

Meng Hongwei said the charges of accepting bribes were "trumped up", and that the CCP really purged him because "he used his high-profile position to push for change".

Meng Hongwei did not apply for appeal to the court sentence.