A former head of the International Police (Interpol), Meng Hongwei who disappeared after travelling from France to China has admitted taking $2 million (about £1.6 million) in bribes.

Meng resigned as president of the international crime-fighting agency after being detained by Chinese authorities following his disappearance last September.

Meng was elected president of Interpol in 2016 and the agency was forced to ask the Chinese government about his whereabouts last year when they were not informed about his detention.

The 65-year-old Meng who had been living in France was reported missing by his wife, Grace. She said she feared for her husband’s life after he sent her a cryptic message with an image of a knife.

According to a Chinese court in the north-eastern city of Tianjin, Meng read a statement on Thursday in which he confessed to accepting bribes and expressed regret for his crime.

Although admitting guilt and expressing regret can result in a slightly lighter punishment in China, the Asian country is quick to hand out life sentences as it cracks down on corruption and political disloyalty under a campaign run directly by President Xi Jinping.

The court said Meng had abused his positions, including as China’s Vice Minister of Public Security and Maritime Police Chief to curry favour for others in return for bribes.

Meng has already been fired from his positions and kicked out of the Communist Party.

Grace, who has been granted asylum in France where Meng had been stationed for the Lyon-based Interpol has also accused Chinese authorities of creating a fake case against her husband for political reasons.