The DOJ asserts criminal jurisdiction over a Chinese national "defrauding" a Hong Kong bank in a meeting in Hong Kong. Hong Kong could have thrown a skunk into

The DOJ asserts criminal jurisdiction over a Chinese national "defrauding" a Hong Kong bank in a meeting in Hong Kong. Hong Kong could have thrown a skunk into the extradition garden party by asserting sovereign criminal jurisdiction and requesting Meng's extradition along with investigatory files from DOJ via MLAT. The extradition hearing was proceeding under the fiction that the "criminal" act took place in Canada; however Meng's lawyers pointed out that Canadian law has no jurisdiction over conduct between foreign nationals in another country (excepting war crimes and crimes against humanity). The judge found difficulties with the DOJ case. Had the judge ruled against the DOJ, Meng could have flown back to China with the DOJ indictment hanging over her head and inhibiting foreign travel. The DPA spares her that along with maybe another decade of an ankle bracelet, security guards, and several million in legal fees. But really the DOJ had to twist a repealed Iran sanctions case that would not fly in Canada into a "bank fraud" case. Why a Canadian justice minister refused to see through that and halt extradition in January '19 and spare two innocent Canadians nearly three years in Chinese jail, I have no idea. I'm no fan of China, but they do know their way around Realpolitik hardball way, way, way better than Canada,which as a Canadian I find utterly clueless.