Mo Du sentenced to ten years in prison for defrauding $5.5m from Chinese investors and purchasing CBD properties

A property fraudster has been given a lengthy prison sentence after pocketing more than $5.5m from Chinese investors eager to buy Adelaide real estate.

A property fraudster will spend at least six years behind bars for deceiving three Chinese investors of more than $5m as his crimes were “too excessive” to be afforded the “leniency” of home detention.

During sentencing for Mo Du, 36, Auxiliary Judge Gordon Barrett said Mo Du’s offending was so serious that his sentence could only be served in prison.

“This was serious and deliberate offending involving a considerable amount of money over a period of three years,” Judge Barrett said.

“There was nothing impulsive about your offending.”

“You produced 31 documents in September 2017 which were plainly intended to reassure the purchasers of your bona fides … your offending was substantial.”

Property fraudster Mo Du, 36, leaves the District Court after sentencing submissions in September. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Du was found unanimously guilty by a jury on seven counts and not guilty on two counts of deception. He has now launched an appeal bid.

The court heard Du misrepresented the price of three properties – one at 157 Waymouth St in Adelaide, one at 79 Port Rd, Thebarton, and one at 9-11 Dequetteville Tce, Kent Town.

Through his deceit, Du profited the difference of $5.5m across the three properties and three businessmen during his offending from mid-2014 to late 2017.

“(Du) made a very substantial contribution to the extensive deceits,” the judge said.

Prosecutors told the court the funds were used by Du on house purchases, expensive motor vehicles, personal expenses and large ATM cash withdrawals.

The court heard Du had his assets frozen following his arrest for his offending in April 2018.

They have remained frozen while he was on bail prior to his sentencing in September 2024.

A former restaurant site at 157 Waymouth Street in Adelaide, which was misrepresented in price by $1.56m. Picture: Matt Loxton

The former ES Wigg and Son factory at 79 Port Rd, Thebarton, was misrepresented by more than $3.5m. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

The court further heard no restitution had been made between the three Chinese investors and Du during civil proceedings launched in 2018.

In victim impact statements presented to Judge Barrett, each of the victims detailed their “disappointment” at the deception, and some described how their “reputation for business acumen” had suffered.

“There lives were disrupted by having to come to Australia from China,” the judge said.

“Your offending was a breach in trust in this sense. (One investor) was the first of the purchasers with whom you had dealings.”

He said Du does not admit his guilt, and has not expressed any remorse – and an appeal against his convictions has been lodged.

During sentencing submissions, Chris Kammerow asked the judge to consider the impact the years of delay had on Du, and that it was a “powerful mitigatory factor”.

Du was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for his offending across all three properties, with a non-parole period of six years.

Du’s sentence began on September 27, 2024, when he was sentenced and taken into custody.