VANCOUVER (Reuters) - On the day Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was detained two years ago, a police officer stationed at Vancouver airport testified on Monday that he found himself in a very uncomfortable position" as the U.S. point of contact. Federal Investigation Bureau (FBI).
As part of her U.S. extradition case, Meng, 48, returned to the British Columbia Supreme Court on Monday for the final week of witness cross examinations, in the wake of reports last week that her lawyers and the U.S. prosecutors held talks to negotiate an arrangement that could see her release and return to China.
I'm not there at the end of the day to provide information and act on behalf of the FBI. I'm employed as an RCMP officer there,' testified Sergeant Ross Lundie of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
"Given my background, assisting the FBI - this is a very uncomfortable position to be in," he said.
On a warrant from the United States, Meng was arrested in December 2018. She is facing bank fraud charges for allegedly misleading HSBC Holdings Plc about the business activities of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in Iran, causing the bank to breach U.S. sanctions.
She has said that she is innocent and is fighting extradition from Vancouver under house arrest. Her attorneys have argued that during her investigation and detention, her extradition should be thrown out based on violations of procedure, including improper communication between U.S. and Canadian authorities.
They also argued that the case was politicized to the extent that Meng will not get a fair trial in the United States, referring to remarks made by President Donald Trump in a December 2018 interview with Reuters regarding his ability to use Meng in trade talks with China as a bargaining chip.
A person familiar with the matter said on Thursday, U.S. prosecutors are negotiating an arrangement with attorneys for Huawei's Meng to settle criminal proceedings against her, signaling a possible end to a case that has strained relations between the United States, China and Canada.
Lundie testified two weeks ago that during Meng's investigation and detention, he received at least two calls from FBI officials.
He also told the court in previous testimony that, despite a strong suggestion to the contrary from headquarters, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) should be permitted to perform its review of Meng first.
Lundie testified on Monday that he was worried about the emergence of coordination between the CBSA and the RCMP leading up to the arrest of Meng. Before the RCMP detained her, he told the court it was "reasonable" for CBSA to secure Meng's electronic devices in Mylar bags - which block all signals.
Lundie denied that CBSA's move blurred the lines between the investigation of the RCMP and CBSA since the devices were never searched. "Lundie said, "I saw it as being fair. "With those phones, nothing else was going on."
In previous weeks of cross-examination of witnesses, CBSA and RCMP officials testified that the procedure leading to the investigation and arrest of Meng was hurried, but by the book.
Prosecutors contend that the extradition of Meng is legitimate and protocols have been followed.
The arrest of Meng triggered a chill in Ottawa and Beijing's diplomatic relations. Shortly after Meng was arrested, two Canadian men - Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor - were arrested by China, who are now facing charges of espionage.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said his "top priority" was the release of the two Canadians, while refusing to comment on the talks to release Meng.
The case of Meng is planned to wrap up in April 2021.
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