Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou free to return to China

Beijing releases two detained Canadians after executive reaches deal with U.S.

Huawei Technologies CFO Meng Wanzhou leaves her home to attend a virtual court hearing in Vancouver, Canada, on Sept. 24. © Reuters

MARRIAN ZHOU, Nikkei staff writer

September 25, 2021 00:15 JST

Updated on September 25, 2021 10:18 JST

NEW YORK -- Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou has reached an agreement with U.S. prosecutors to resolve fraud charges against her on Friday. With a Canadian judge signing her discharge, she is free to leave Canada after nearly three years.

Meng appeared virtually in a hearing at Brooklyn federal court. She pleaded not guilty to fraud charges and agreed to the terms of a deferred prosecution, which is a speedy trial that will be delayed to Dec. 1, 2022. It means the U.S Department of Justice will hold off prosecution till next year and if Meng complies with conditions laid out by court, the charges will be dropped.