The day before the British Columbia Supreme Court is slated to release a key decision in the extradition case of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government doesn't need to apologize for decisions made by the independent Canadian justice system.
"One of the good things about having a truly independent justice system is that we don't need to apologize or explain for the decisions taken by our independent justice system. We have confidence in that system, in its independence, and we of course will continue to abide and defend our system," Trudeau said, speaking from the front steps of Rideau Cottage on Tuesday.
The United States has charged Meng with fraud, accusing her of violating American sanctions against Iran. Both Meng and Huawei have denied the charges, and her lawyers say the case should be thrown out as Canada rejected similar sanctions. However, the Crown is arguing that the judge must determine if there is evidence of fraud.
Canada has fiercely defended the independence of its judiciary, despite Chinese pressure for Meng to be returned to home soil — pressure that resulted in what Canadian officials have called the arbitrary detention of the two Canadians in China. "We have continued to engage diplomatically with our partners, both with the Americans and the Chinese on the issue of Meng Wanzhou and indeed of the two Michaels who have been arbitrarily detained in China," Trudeau said.
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