China will prosecute former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei for improperly spending state funds, abusing his power, and failing to follow Communist Party direction.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said Mr Meng “wantonly and lavishly” spent state money, “refused to enact decisions of the party centre,” and abused his power for private gain. He was suspected of taking bribes, causing serious harm to the ruling Communist Party and overall state interests. The Commission said he should be dealt with severely.

Mr Meng has also been expelled from the Communist Party and handed over to legal authorities. He is almost certain to be found guilty at trial as courts are controlled by the Party. It is unclear if he has had access to a lawyer while in detention.

China's anti-corruption watchdog issued its statement on Wednesday after Xi Jinping, the president, returned from a weeklong state visit that ended in France, where global police coordination agency Interpol is headquartered. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, raised the issue of human rights in China in meetings with Mr Xi.

Mr Meng’s mysterious disappearance made global headlines last autumn after his wife reported him missing to French police while on a trip to China, his home country. Before he vanished, he had sent a series of messages to his wife, asking her to wait for his call followed by a knife emoji, which she took as a warning sign.