Former Interpol chief is charged with bribery

Meng Hongwei, former Chinese vice-minister of public security and president of Interpol, has been charged with bribery by the Tianjin Municipal People's Procuratorate No 1 Branch, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate on Friday.

The Tianjin Municipal People's Procuratorate No 1 Branch has handed the case to Tianjin No 1 Intermediate People's Court, and a hearing will be held at a later date, the SPP said.

According to the indictment, Meng took advantage of his position to benefit others in job promotions and company management, then accepted huge bribes paid in cash or properties.

Meng, 65, was elected president of Interpol, based in Lyon, France, in 2016, becoming the first Chinese to take the post.

Before serving as Interpol president, Meng was vice-minister of public security and head of China Coast Guard. After taking the post as Interpol president, he still kept the position of vice-minister of public security in China.

He resigned in October, when he was placed under investigation by the National Commission of Supervision and the Communist Party of China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection for "serious violation of disciplines and laws".

According to the CCDI, Meng didn't report his personal matters to the Party's organization, resisted the Party's censorship and didn't implement major decisions made by the CPC Central Committee.

The CCDI said he abused public power and used public money to fund his family's luxurious life. He also used his position to find a job for his wife and allowed her to use her position to benefit herself.

"He is subject to severe punishment because he seriously damaged the Party's image and the State's vital interests, resulting in bad consequences," the CCDI said in a previous statement.