China’s anti-corruption watchdog says it is investigating Meng Hongwei, who heads the global law enforcement organisation Interpol, for suspected violations of the law.
Mr Meng, 64, who is also Vice-Minister of Public Security in China, had been reported missing after travelling from France, where Interpol is based, to China.
“Public Security Ministry Vice-Minister Meng Hongwei is currently under investigation by the National Supervisory Commission for suspected violations of law,” the Chinese anti-corruption body said in a brief statement on its website.
The statement did not specify the nature of the alleged legal violations, and was the first from China since Mr Meng’s disappearance was reported in France on Friday.
When asked about the Chinese announcement, France’s Interior Ministry said it had no information.
Interpol, which is based in the French city of Lyon, said it had made a formal request to China for information about Mr Meng.
Mr Meng’s wife Grace, who remains in France, has been placed under police protection after receiving threats.
She told reporters in Lyon that she had not heard from her husband since September 25. Ms Meng said he used his Interpol phone to send her an emoji image of a knife that day, four minutes after he sent a message saying “Wait for my call.”
She said the call never came and she does not know what happened to him.
Of the knife image, she said: “I think he means he is in danger.”
