Photo links MP Gladys Liu to man at centre of Chinese spy allegations Nick Zhao
The Coalition MP for Chisholm’s office says she has no memory of meeting Nick Zhao, but newly surfaced images suggest otherwise.
Embattled Liberal MP Gladys Liu has been linked to the dead man at the centre of the Chinese spying allegations in the Victorian seat of Chisholm.
Photos of a man sitting next to Ms Liu have been posted on social media, with the suggestion the attendee is the late businessman Nick Zhao.
Ms Liu’s office said today she had no recollection of meeting Zhao at a function in 2016.
But the office has confirmed Ms Liu is the woman in the photograph.
READ MORE: Spy chief shows PM how to deal with a crisis | ‘Beijing agent’ Bo “Nick’’ Zhao was lo-profile, Libs say | Andrew Hastie helped ‘spy’ Wang Liqiang find an ASIO haven
Sources said the photos were taken at Ms Liu’s house early in 2016.
A spokesman for Ms Liu last night confirmed the photos were taken in her house.
He said Ms Liu still did not recall meeting Zhao.
“She doesn’t recall meeting him,” he said.
“The photos are obviously in her old house.”
The photos were taken at a post Christmas function where Ms Liu was thanking branch members for their work.
It came before the 2016 election, which was contested by then Liberal Julia Banks.
The photos were posted by the Victorian Liberal Party’s eastern multicultural branch.
Zhao died of an overdose, accidental or deliberate, in March while facing fraud and perjury charges.
He reportedly told ASIO that he had been approached as part of a plot to insert a Chinese agent of influence into federal parliament.
Zhao was found dead in a Melbourne motel room in March after allegedly telling ASIO he had been approached by a wealthy Chinese businessman with an offer to run for the federal seat of Chisholm, ostensibly as a Chinese agent.
Ms Liu has stated this week that she had no recollection of meeting Zhao, who was 32 when he died.
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