(Adds details from court proceedings)
By Sarah Berman
VANCOUVER, Dec 8 (Reuters) - A Canadian police officer
acting as the airport liaison when Huawei Chief Financial
Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested two years ago testified on
Tuesday that he should have investigated further when he thought
he overheard a fellow police officer and a border agent
discussing the passcodes to Meng's devices.
Meng's lawyers have argued that U.S. and Canadian
authorities illegally coordinated during her investigation and
arrest. In particular they claim that Canadian border agents
intentionally gave identifying details about Meng's electronic
devices - including passcodes - to Canadian police.
They further allege that Canadian police shared those
details with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Meng, 48, was arrested in Canada in December 2018 on a
warrant from the United States. She is facing charges of bank
fraud for allegedly misleading HSBC Holdings Plc about
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's business dealings in Iran,
causing the bank to break U.S. sanctions.
She has said she is innocent and is fighting the extradition
from under house arrest in Vancouver.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Sergeant Ross Lundie,
who was serving as the force's airport liaison when Meng was
arrested, told the court on Tuesday that he recalled overhearing
one of his RCMP colleagues discussing passcodes, potentially to
Meng's devices, with a Canadian border agent.
But he said he did not realize the potential significance of
the conversation on the day of Meng’s arrest.
"At that time I had no idea why there would be passwords to
phones...obtained by anybody," he said. "I should have asked for
clarity."
Prosecutors are trying to establish that Meng's arrest by
the Canadian federal police and the investigation by the border
officials were aboveboard.
The witness testimony this week has generated more attention
after news last week that U.S. prosecutors are discussing a deal
with lawyers for Meng to resolve criminal charges against her,
signaling a potential end to a case that has strained ties
between the United States, China and Canada.
Her lawyers have argued in the British Columbia Supreme
Court that Meng's extradition should be thrown out based on
alleged abuses of process that took place during her
investigation by Canadian border officials and subsequent arrest
by police, including inappropriate coordination between U.S. and
Canadian authorities.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Sergeant Ross Lundie
testified on Monday that he was "very uncomfortable" being the
point of contact for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation
because he felt it conflicted with his responsibilities as a
Canadian police officer.
"At the end of the day, I'm not there to provide information
and act on behalf of the FBI. I’m there working as an RCMP
member," Lundie told the court.
Prosecutors are arguing that Meng's extradition is valid and
procedures were followed.
Meng’s arrest caused a chill in diplomatic relations between
Ottawa and Beijing. Shortly after Meng was detained, China
arrested two Canadian men, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor,
who now face spying charges.
On Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the
release of the two Canadians was his "top priority," while
declining to comment on the talks to release Meng.
Meng’s case is scheduled to wrap up in April 2021.
(Reporting by Sarah Berman in Vancouver; Additional reporting
by Moira Warburton in Toronto; Editing by Denny Thomas and Lisa
Shumaker)
HSBC Holdings (HSBA)