Australian-Chinese billionaire businessman linked to UN bribery scandal

A major Chinese-Australian political donor has been named in federal parliament for allegedly funding a bribe to a former United Nations official.

ABC

Source: ABC Australia

Western Australian Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has used parliamentary privilege to name billionaire Chau Chak Wing for his alleged involvement in the bribery of John Ashe, a former president of the UN General Assembly.

Mr Ashe died while awaiting trial in 2016.

Until now, the Australian man has been known as ‘Co-Conspirator 3’ or ‘CC3’ in US court documents.

“The Australian people deserve the truth,” Mr Hastie, chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee for Intelligence and Security, told Parliament’s Federation Chamber on Tuesday night.
Liberal Member for Canning Andrew Hastie in Parliament House.
Malcolm Turnbull has defended Liberal MP Andrew Hastie's use of parliamentary privilege. (AAP) Source: AAP
Mr Hastie alleged Mr Chau, a Chinese-born Australian billionaire, was behind a $225,000 payment to Mr Ashe to attend a real estate conference in China in 2017.

“[Mr Chau] has also been a very significant donor to both of our major political parties,” Mr Hastie said.

“He's given $4 million since 2004 [and] he's also donated $45 million to universities in Australia.”

Mr Chau has been one of the most prominent identities in concerns about foreign interference in Australian politics.

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By Helen Chen

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