Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer who has been held in Vancouver for almost three years on criminal fraud charges, walked free on Friday after reaching a deal with US prosecutors, while two Canadians detained in China shortly after her arrest were allowed to return home.
A Canadian judge ordered Meng’s release after US prosecutors announced a deferred prosecution agreement during a federal court hearing in Brooklyn before Judge Ann Donnelly. Meng, 49, attended the hearing by video.
US authorities had sought to extradite Meng from Canada to face bank and wire fraud charges, alleging she misled banks into processing transactions for Huawei that breached sanctions against Iran. As part of the deal announced on Friday to resolve those charges, Meng admitted to deceiving lenders but pleaded not guilty to the charges.