Court documents allege that Chinese national accused of spying was living a life of luxury prior to charges
The woman, who has not been identified, was charged with reckless foreign interference last Monday by the Australian Federal Police, who alleged she was tasked to spy on a Buddhist religious organization operating in Australia.
According to court documents seen by the ACT Supreme Court, police have alleged the woman had 'unexplained wealth' - including cash, luxury handbags and a receipt for a $24,000 Rolex watch.
Police have alleged the unnamed woman was part of numerous covert operations in Australia, and intended to infiltrate the religious group Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door - which is banned in China but is freely allowed to practice in Australia.
The group is a branch of Buddhism, founded in Australia by the late Chinese Australian Lu Junhong.
The documents allege the woman was tasked with taking images of locations of the group's chapters nationally, collecting details about the leaders, and passing on images of front doors of businesses.
In the documents police said they remain concerned about other victims and suggested there may be other "persons of interest".
The case, which is before the ACT Courts, comes after ASIO director Mike Burgess revealed this month the cost of foreign espionage to Australia.
"Nation states are spying at unprecedented levels, with unprecedented sophistication," he said.
"ASIO is seeing more Australians targeted — more aggressively — than ever before.
'In recent years, for example, defence employees travelling overseas have been subjected to covert room searches, been approached at conferences by spies in disguise and given gifts containing surveillance devices."
The woman will be back in court in September.
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