Vietnamese-born businessman Di Sanh Duong, 68, was found guilty by a jury of preparing for, or planning, an act of foreign interference on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) following a month-long trial in the County Court at the end of 2023.
He had used a $37,450 (US$26,000) donation to Royal Melbourne Hospital to try curry favour with then-federal Health Minister Alan Tudge, whom he believed could be a future prime minister.
A Novelty Cheque
Mr. Duong had raised money initially, as president of the Oceania Federation of Chinese Organisations, to be used for COVID-19 supplies, including gloves and masks.The supplies were to come from China, but due to logistical difficulties, Mr. Duong instead, handed over a novelty cheque at a media event organised by Mr. Tudge’s office in June 2020.
Prosecutors said Mr. Duong, a former Victorian Liberal Party candidate and Chinese-Asian community leader, was a “practiced operative” of the United Front Work Department, a global program aiming to advance the CCP’s goals in foreign countries by influencing people in positions of power.
‘Serious Example’ of the Offence: Judge
In sentencing Mr. Duong, Judge Richard Maidment said he had “exploited” his lack of prior criminal history, his good standing in the community, and his Liberal Party membership in committing the offending.His targeting of a cabinet minister as the object of his criminal intent amounted to a “serious example of an inherently serious offence,” the judge said.
He imposed a two-year and nine-month prison term, after finding a term of imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence. Mr. Duonge must serve 12 months of that sentence before becoming eligible for release on a four-year good behaviour bond.
Mr. Duong, who has been on bail throughout the proceedings, cried and grabbed a tissue upon hearing the sentence.