epa07077612 (FILE) - A handout image made available by INTERPOL showing Meng Hongwei, Chinese President of Interpol, speaking in Bali, Indonesia (reissued 07 October 2018). Reports on 07 October 2018 state that the INTERPOL General Secretariat in Lyon, France has received the resignation of Mr Meng Hongwei as President of INTERPOL with immediate effect. Under the terms of INTERPOL?s Constitution and internal regulations, the Senior Vice-President serving on INTERPOL?s Executive Committee, Mr Kim Jong Yang of South Korea, becomes the Acting President. EPA-EFE/INTERPOL / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES Meng has resigned "with immediate effect" and Senior Vice President Kim Jong Yang of South Korea has become acting president, Interpol said in a statement.
Meng, the first Chinese president of Interpol, was last heard from on September 25 as he left Lyon, where the police agency is based, for China.
That day, his wife said he sent a social media message telling her to "wait for my call", before sending a knife emoji signifying danger. She said she feared for his life.
Beijing, which had remained tight-lipped about Meng's fate since French officials disclosed his disappearance on Friday, said in a one-line statement that Meng "is currently under investigation on suspicion of violating the law".
Interpol also said in its statement that it will elect a new president for the remaining two years of the current mandate at its general assembly to be held in Dubai on November 18-21. DM