Di Sanh ‘Sunny’ Duong will face trial on a charge of preparing an act of foreign interference
A man who allegedly tried to influence a Victorian politician on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party could face up to 10 years in jail.
Police & Courts
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A former Liberal Party candidate has been committed to stand trial over allegations he targeted MP Alan Tudge in a bid to influence the government on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
Di Sanh ‘Sunny’ Duong will face trial at the County Court on a single charge of preparing an act of foreign interference over a $37k Royal Melbourne Hospital donation he said was to help doctors with the coronavirus pandemic.
The 67-year-old appeared on Thursday in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, where Magistrate Susan Wakeling handed down her ruling that there was sufficient weight in the circumstantial case to convict him.
Her Honour asked Mr Duong – the first person to be prosecuted with the offence, which carries up to 10-years-jail – whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty.
“Your Honour, not guilty,” he replied.
He will return to court for a pre-trial hearing in August.
As a part of his bail conditions, Mr Duong is banned from travelling overseas but could head interstate for a maximum of three weeks with permission.
Mr Duong was filmed by media on June 2, 2020 with Mr Tudge, then the Multicultural Affairs Minister, handing over a novelty-sized $37,000 cheque at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The Australian Federal Police alleges that the money, from the Oceania Federation of Chinese Organisations of which Mr Duong was president, was intended to influence Mr Tudge on behalf of the CCP.
But the community leader denied this in court, claiming the money was to help doctors.
Her Honour told the court that the prosecution argued Mr Duong’s collateral or primary motive was to develop a relationship with Mr Tudge and use that to influence government policy in favour of the CCP.
Ms Wakeling said she was “satisfied” that the evidence against Mr Duong, taken at its highest, was capable of returning a finding of guilt.
The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court earlier heard that secretly recorded conversations captured Mr Duong telling a member of the federation that the intention of the donation was to “give back to the society”.
“We mainly want the Australian people to see we care,” he was heard saying on telephone intercepts.
He said the public donation would be made on behalf of the Australian-Chinese community, who were experiencing racial vilification over the virus.
Mr Duong will return to the County Court on August 25.
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