Article content continued

Meng’s suit says that instead of immediately arresting her or informing her why she was being pulled aside, authorities interrogated her “under the guise of a routine customs” examination and used the opportunity to “compel her to provide evidence and information.”

Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS

The claim notes that an arrest warrant for Meng was issued the night before her scheduled Dec. 1 stopover at YVR but alleges Yep “intentionally delayed the immediate execution of the warrant, contrary to the order of the court” until after she had been detained, searched and interrogated by CBSA officers.

Meng alleges she was ordered by CBSA to surrender two personal cellphones, an iPad and a personal computer. An unnamed CBSA officer then requested Meng’s passwords and, according to the claim, searched the devices. The claim notes that Meng believed she had no choice but to hand over the devices and passwords.

“Despite having detained the plaintiff, the CBSA officers did not promptly inform the plaintiff of the reasons for her detention, afford her an opportunity to retain and instruct legal counsel without delay, or inform her of her right to do so under the Charter,” read the suit.

The suit claims Meng wasn’t told the reasons for her detainment and that she wasn’t officially arrested until three hours after she was first stopped by CBSA officers.

Meng’s suit now seeks a declaration that her Charter rights were infringed, tort and punitive damages, and special and other costs.

The claim has not yet been tested in court.

On Friday, the federal Justice Department had green-lit an extradition case against Wanzhou. Since her arrest in December, Canada’s relationship with China — its second-biggest trading partner — has been strained. Friday’s development seemed to take into consideration the sensitive nature of Meng’s case.

Meng’s extradition case goes back to B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday. It will not determine whether Meng is guilty or innocent; that trial will take place in the United States.

In recent days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had also come under fire by Chinese government officials after Trudeau and those connected to his office were alleged to have interfered in the prosecution of engineering firm SNC-Lavalin. Trudeau had previously said the Canadian government could not intervene in Meng’s case, leading Chinese officials to call his approach inconsistent.

— with files from Canadian Press, Associated Press

sip@postmedia.com

twitter.com/stephanie_ip