OREANDA-NEWS. The Tianjin Mid-Level People's Court in northern China on Tuesday sentenced former head of Interpol, former deputy public security minister Meng Hongwei, to 13.5 years in prison. This was reported by the Central Television of China. According to him, the defendant didn't express a desire to appeal the verdict and did not appeal, he also has to pay a fine of 2 million yuan (about $ 292 thousand at the current rate).

Meng Hongwei was accused of corruption and abuse of power. According to the investigation, while in office, he received bribes in the amount of 14.46 million yuan ($ 2.12 million). On October 7, 2018, Chinese authorities reported the detention of Meng Hongwei on suspicion of breaking the law, while the PRC Ministry of Public Security stated that the former head of Interpol is suspected of bribery and other crimes.

At the end of March 2019, the Chinese leadership expelled him from the ranks of the Communist Party, dismissing him from government posts. According to a statement by the State Oversight Committee, Meng Hongwei was found guilty of "serious violations of party discipline," On April 24, the People’s Supreme Prosecutor's Office decided to detain him.