Former Liberal Candidate Guilty of Planning Foreign Interference, Court Rules

A Melbourne-based Asian community leader with links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been found guilty in a Victorian court of “preparing for or planning foreign interference.” The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail. Businessman Di Sanh “Sunny” Duong, who also goes by the Chinese name of Yang Yisheng, 68, faced a month-long jury trial in Melbourne’s County Court. His lawyer claimed that he was trying to raise money for healthcare workers and to combat anti-Chinese sentiment during the COVID-19 outbreak, and was part of his “regular charity work.” The case was centred on a $37,450 (US$26,000) donation, raised through his community group, the Oceania Federation of Chinese Associations, to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Charges were laid in 2020, after a year-long investigation by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police....