Woman faces 15 years in jail for reckless foreign interference in Canberra
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said on Monday that the woman, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was charged after search warrants were carried out at Canberra residences on Saturday. The reckless foreign interference charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years' jail.
'The AFP has alleged the woman … was tasked by China's Public Security Bureau to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of the Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association,' Nutt said.
The woman's appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday comes just days after ASIO boss Mike Burgess sounded the alarm that Australia was increasingly becoming a target of espionage, costing the government more than $12 billion per year.
Nutt said the woman's alleged 'covert and deceptive conduct' aimed to collect information on the Buddhist group to support intelligence objectives of the Chinese government agency.
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He said Operation Autumn-Shield, launched in March after receiving intelligence from ASIO, was ongoing and that more people could be charged.
The investigation did not include dealings with the Chinese embassy, but Nutt declined to give further details, including information that could lead to the identification of the woman, because the ACT Magistrates' Court had issued a suppression order.
Items, including electronic devices, were seized during the Canberra raids and will undergo forensic examination, the AFP said in a statement.
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7NEWS
3 hours ago
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Kmart dragged into landmark legal case over alleged links to Uyghur forced labor in China
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The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
ICAC zeroes in on Newcastle engineer's slippery slope to cash kickbacks
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"He said to me can you inflate the rates and I was shocked because I thought how could you ... how could you do that with all the oversight," Mr Liu said. "I didn't think it was feasible. He said 'I have my ways'." It was as simple as changing the rate, for example if the rate was $100 a linear metre, he would change it to $120'. That was one of the ways, he said. Another way was to add "extra services" such as traffic control, and a variety of things into the invoice, Mr Liu said. He was shocked that a procurement officer could do that Mr Liu said, but he also went along with it, and is accused of receiving more than $100,000 in kickbacks. Rob Ranken SC, Counsel Assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in its inquiry into Transport for NSW corruption, asked him why he didn't report it. Mr Liu said he had done some soul searching about that, and part of the explanation was that he felt his career was going nowhere. "I think at that time a senior project position came up and I didn't win it," Mr Liu said. "It's fair to say I didn't do well in the interview. I felt, for whatever it's worth, no matter how good I am, this is it, this is my life forever. That's not an excuse though." Mr Liu said in other conversations with Mr Helmy they discussed in greater depth how the rort would work. "I asked, if you can inflate the rates, why do you need me," Mr Liu said. If he added extra items he needed me to look the other way, he said. Mr Helmy would supply a rate from the contractors on the panel, and then Mr Liu was to say how much money was left in the budget, and they could add that on to the bill and take it for themselves. "Basically he just wanted to add stuff and I just had to sign it when the invoice was issued that those additional items that were provided actually weren't provided," Mr Liu said. 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"WE should get on the bandwagon" were the words Ibrahim Helmy allegedly used to first lure former Newcastle-based senior projects engineer David Liu into his web of corruption. "Basically it was an indication that we should get in bed with the contractors, inflate the rates, and get cash benefits," Mr Liu said. The conversation started with Mr Liu questioning Mr Helmy, a senior Transport for NSW figure, about the rates of various subcontractors. Mr Liu felt that some of their regular contractors, such as Protection Barriers, were ripping them off and that their prices were too high. Mr Helmy called it a COVID tax, inflation, because "things were getting expensive", Mr Liu said. In later conversations, the tone became more serious and the specifics of the how-to were discussed. During work-related phone calls, Mr Helmy made comments about having "a really safe way" to get cash kickbacks if they wanted to, Mr Liu said. "He said to me can you inflate the rates and I was shocked because I thought how could you ... how could you do that with all the oversight," Mr Liu said. "I didn't think it was feasible. He said 'I have my ways'." It was as simple as changing the rate, for example if the rate was $100 a linear metre, he would change it to $120'. That was one of the ways, he said. Another way was to add "extra services" such as traffic control, and a variety of things into the invoice, Mr Liu said. He was shocked that a procurement officer could do that Mr Liu said, but he also went along with it, and is accused of receiving more than $100,000 in kickbacks. Rob Ranken SC, Counsel Assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in its inquiry into Transport for NSW corruption, asked him why he didn't report it. Mr Liu said he had done some soul searching about that, and part of the explanation was that he felt his career was going nowhere. "I think at that time a senior project position came up and I didn't win it," Mr Liu said. "It's fair to say I didn't do well in the interview. I felt, for whatever it's worth, no matter how good I am, this is it, this is my life forever. That's not an excuse though." Mr Liu said in other conversations with Mr Helmy they discussed in greater depth how the rort would work. "I asked, if you can inflate the rates, why do you need me," Mr Liu said. If he added extra items he needed me to look the other way, he said. Mr Helmy would supply a rate from the contractors on the panel, and then Mr Liu was to say how much money was left in the budget, and they could add that on to the bill and take it for themselves. "Basically he just wanted to add stuff and I just had to sign it when the invoice was issued that those additional items that were provided actually weren't provided," Mr Liu said. The alleged rigging and inflation of contracts by Transport for NSW procurement officer Mr Helmy, who is in hiding, between 2012 and 2024 has come under the microscope of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Helmy was involved in corrupt relationships with companies that were paid at least $343 million in contracts. He is wanted by police and is believed to be in hiding after a failed attempt to leave Australia on a US passport in September. He is the principal - but not only - official involved in the ICAC inquiry. Investigations led to raids in September on the head office of Protection Barriers, one of the state's biggest roadworks companies, headed by Jason Chellew. Mr Ranken said in his opening address that he expected the evidence to show that Mr Liu received between $100,000 and $150,000 from Mr Chellew as part of a hire truck arrangement. "WE should get on the bandwagon" were the words Ibrahim Helmy allegedly used to first lure former Newcastle-based senior projects engineer David Liu into his web of corruption. "Basically it was an indication that we should get in bed with the contractors, inflate the rates, and get cash benefits," Mr Liu said. The conversation started with Mr Liu questioning Mr Helmy, a senior Transport for NSW figure, about the rates of various subcontractors. Mr Liu felt that some of their regular contractors, such as Protection Barriers, were ripping them off and that their prices were too high. Mr Helmy called it a COVID tax, inflation, because "things were getting expensive", Mr Liu said. In later conversations, the tone became more serious and the specifics of the how-to were discussed. During work-related phone calls, Mr Helmy made comments about having "a really safe way" to get cash kickbacks if they wanted to, Mr Liu said. "He said to me can you inflate the rates and I was shocked because I thought how could you ... how could you do that with all the oversight," Mr Liu said. "I didn't think it was feasible. He said 'I have my ways'." It was as simple as changing the rate, for example if the rate was $100 a linear metre, he would change it to $120'. That was one of the ways, he said. Another way was to add "extra services" such as traffic control, and a variety of things into the invoice, Mr Liu said. He was shocked that a procurement officer could do that Mr Liu said, but he also went along with it, and is accused of receiving more than $100,000 in kickbacks. Rob Ranken SC, Counsel Assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in its inquiry into Transport for NSW corruption, asked him why he didn't report it. Mr Liu said he had done some soul searching about that, and part of the explanation was that he felt his career was going nowhere. "I think at that time a senior project position came up and I didn't win it," Mr Liu said. "It's fair to say I didn't do well in the interview. I felt, for whatever it's worth, no matter how good I am, this is it, this is my life forever. That's not an excuse though." Mr Liu said in other conversations with Mr Helmy they discussed in greater depth how the rort would work. "I asked, if you can inflate the rates, why do you need me," Mr Liu said. If he added extra items he needed me to look the other way, he said. Mr Helmy would supply a rate from the contractors on the panel, and then Mr Liu was to say how much money was left in the budget, and they could add that on to the bill and take it for themselves. "Basically he just wanted to add stuff and I just had to sign it when the invoice was issued that those additional items that were provided actually weren't provided," Mr Liu said. The alleged rigging and inflation of contracts by Transport for NSW procurement officer Mr Helmy, who is in hiding, between 2012 and 2024 has come under the microscope of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Helmy was involved in corrupt relationships with companies that were paid at least $343 million in contracts. He is wanted by police and is believed to be in hiding after a failed attempt to leave Australia on a US passport in September. He is the principal - but not only - official involved in the ICAC inquiry. Investigations led to raids in September on the head office of Protection Barriers, one of the state's biggest roadworks companies, headed by Jason Chellew. Mr Ranken said in his opening address that he expected the evidence to show that Mr Liu received between $100,000 and $150,000 from Mr Chellew as part of a hire truck arrangement. "WE should get on the bandwagon" were the words Ibrahim Helmy allegedly used to first lure former Newcastle-based senior projects engineer David Liu into his web of corruption. "Basically it was an indication that we should get in bed with the contractors, inflate the rates, and get cash benefits," Mr Liu said. The conversation started with Mr Liu questioning Mr Helmy, a senior Transport for NSW figure, about the rates of various subcontractors. Mr Liu felt that some of their regular contractors, such as Protection Barriers, were ripping them off and that their prices were too high. Mr Helmy called it a COVID tax, inflation, because "things were getting expensive", Mr Liu said. In later conversations, the tone became more serious and the specifics of the how-to were discussed. During work-related phone calls, Mr Helmy made comments about having "a really safe way" to get cash kickbacks if they wanted to, Mr Liu said. "He said to me can you inflate the rates and I was shocked because I thought how could you ... how could you do that with all the oversight," Mr Liu said. "I didn't think it was feasible. He said 'I have my ways'." It was as simple as changing the rate, for example if the rate was $100 a linear metre, he would change it to $120'. That was one of the ways, he said. Another way was to add "extra services" such as traffic control, and a variety of things into the invoice, Mr Liu said. He was shocked that a procurement officer could do that Mr Liu said, but he also went along with it, and is accused of receiving more than $100,000 in kickbacks. Rob Ranken SC, Counsel Assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in its inquiry into Transport for NSW corruption, asked him why he didn't report it. Mr Liu said he had done some soul searching about that, and part of the explanation was that he felt his career was going nowhere. "I think at that time a senior project position came up and I didn't win it," Mr Liu said. "It's fair to say I didn't do well in the interview. I felt, for whatever it's worth, no matter how good I am, this is it, this is my life forever. That's not an excuse though." Mr Liu said in other conversations with Mr Helmy they discussed in greater depth how the rort would work. "I asked, if you can inflate the rates, why do you need me," Mr Liu said. If he added extra items he needed me to look the other way, he said. Mr Helmy would supply a rate from the contractors on the panel, and then Mr Liu was to say how much money was left in the budget, and they could add that on to the bill and take it for themselves. "Basically he just wanted to add stuff and I just had to sign it when the invoice was issued that those additional items that were provided actually weren't provided," Mr Liu said. The alleged rigging and inflation of contracts by Transport for NSW procurement officer Mr Helmy, who is in hiding, between 2012 and 2024 has come under the microscope of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Helmy was involved in corrupt relationships with companies that were paid at least $343 million in contracts. He is wanted by police and is believed to be in hiding after a failed attempt to leave Australia on a US passport in September. He is the principal - but not only - official involved in the ICAC inquiry. Investigations led to raids in September on the head office of Protection Barriers, one of the state's biggest roadworks companies, headed by Jason Chellew. Mr Ranken said in his opening address that he expected the evidence to show that Mr Liu received between $100,000 and $150,000 from Mr Chellew as part of a hire truck arrangement.
Sky News AU
6 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'Don't be stupid, confess to ASIO': Ex-Chinese spy calls out Beijing's Australian espionage efforts, welcomes recent arrest
An ex-Chinese spy has welcomed the arrest of an Australian woman for espionage-related offences as he called out Beijing's intelligence and foreign influence campaigns. On Monday, the Australian Federal Police announced a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been arrested and charged with one count of reckless foreign interference. The woman, who is a permanent Australian resident, allegedly worked to "covertly gather information" about Canberra's Guan Yin Citta Buddhist association on behalf of China's Public Security Bureau. The Chinese Communist Party considers the Buddhist group, which also has members in mainland China, a cult. An ex-Chinese spy has welcomed the arrest of an Australian woman for espionage-related offences as he called out Beijing's intelligence and foreign influence campaigns. Picture: Getty Images In an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia's Cheng Lei, former Chinese spy, Eric, hailed the arrest, saying it was important Australian authorities worked to counter Beijing's efforts to gather intelligence and exert influence at the community level. "What I've noticed in this case is the change to taking action on a spy that's working in a Chinese community organisation, I think it may be the first time," he said. "We know the Chinese government has invested significantly in local community organisations in order to quash dissidents, but also to affect voting and politics. So investing in local communities to counter that is the right thing." Asked whether the woman was acting alone or as part of a larger network of spies, Eric suggested evidence provided by the AFP pointed to the former - although he also warned Beijing had likely established a "large" presence in Australia. On Monday, the Australian Federal Police announced a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been arrested and charged with one count of reckless foreign interference. Picture: Supplied Commenting on the CCP's objectives more broadly, the former spy explained foreign agents had two main aims when conducting operations. "The CCP's spying in Australia takes place in two tracks. One is to quieten criticism against the Chinese government, to ensure its governance security, another is in geopolitics, that may include business, technology, military intel," he said. "China views Australia as important role in geopolitical terms, because we all know if there is military conflict between the US and China in the west pacific, Australia's location is critical. "So the CCP would invest a lot of resources to affect Australian politics and extract military secrets, to ensure Australia would remain neutral, or to defeat the US and Australia's allies." Eric added Chinese spies would work to "foster and develop agents over a long time" in order to avoid detection, including by offering financial incentives to those they believed had valuable information. Asked what any Australian resident being manipulated or approached by China should do, the former spy was unequivocal. "I would say, don't be stupid, first you may be arrested (the) Chinese government would never say 'you're our guys', forget it," he said. "China may start a war in the future, do you want to live in a war country? Don't be stupid, confess to ASIO or police if you are a spy."
