Lawyers for Huawei executive facing extradition to US attack fraud charges

Lawyers for a Chinese telecoms executive seeking to avoid extradition to the US stepped up attacks Tuesday on the fraud charges she faces. Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of tech giant Huawei and eldest daughter of its founder Ren Zhengfei, is wanted by US authorities for alleged fraud related to sanctions against Iran. Her arrest in Canada caused a rift its relations with China.

The US alleges she lied to the bank HSBC about Huawei’s relationship with its Iran-based affiliate Skycom, putting the bank at risk of violating US sanctions against Tehran. Meng has denied the allegations. She has been out on bail, living in one of her two Vancouver luxury homes for the past year. To secure her freedom, however, the “princess of Huawei” must convince Judge Heather Holmes that the US charges would not stand up in Canada and are politically motivated.