Home, ankle bracelet for Huawei exec

Accused of sanctions busting and forced to abide by a curfew and wear an ankle bracelet as she awaits possible extradition to the United States, China’s “Princess of Huawei” could be said to have fallen spectacularly from grace. But Meng Wanzhou, heiress to her billionaire father’s global tech conglomerate, is managing to surround herself with a few home comforts. Huawei’s chief financial officer was arrested on December 1 on a US warrant for alleged sanctions-breaking dealings with Iran, while changing planes in Vancouver.

She faces more than 30 years in jail if convicted, but was freed on Can$10 million bail Tuesday night pending the outcome of an extradition hearing, which could take months, or even years, if appeals are made in the case. The following morning, Meng was spotted answering the front door of her Vancouver house to three visitors bringing flowers who arrived in a sedan with diplomatic plates. Outside, a handful of local residents walked their dogs past a group of journalists while a security guard watched from a car down the block.

Later, Meng stepped out to offer reporters slices of pizza that she’d had ordered in (they politely declined). Meng’s husband Liu Xiaozong in 2009 bought the six-bedroom house where she must stay in Vancouver’s Dunbar neighborhood -- a leafy quiet enclave of single-family homes a few blocks from an urban forest. While on bail, Meng is required to wear an electronic anklet and a security team paid by her has been assigned to monitor her movements in Vancouver.

She also has an 11 pm to 7 am curfew. Speaking through her lawyer, Meng said she looked forward to spending time in Vancouver with her family, and maybe applying for a doctorate program at the University of British Columbia while the extradition case plays out.