China has formally arrested former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei on suspicion of accepting bribes, prosecutors announced on Wednesday, as he faces possible graft charges.
In a remarkable fall from grace, Mr. Meng — who had also served as Vice Minister of Public Security — vanished last September during a visit to China from France, where Interpol is based, and was later accused of accepting bribes.
Prosecutors “decided to arrest Mr. Meng on suspicion of accepting bribes,” the Supreme People's Procuratorate said in a brief statement.
It added that the case is being “further processed”, an indication that he could soon be charged.
Mr. Meng has been expelled from the Communist Party and his official positions, as the powerful Public Security Ministry sought to distance itself from him.
The Ministry said last month that Mr. Meng's “poisonous influence” had to be “eliminated”, and that it was investigating other party cadres involved in his case.
Over one million officials have been punished so far during President Xi Jinping's six-year tenure.
