CANBERRA, Australia — A government lawmaker has accused a China-born Australian billionaire who generously donates to Australian political parties of conspiring to bribe a top United Nations official, threatening to further inflame diplomatic tensions between Australia and China. Hastie told Parliament that during a visit to the United States last month, U.S. officials confirmed to him that the 63-year-old Chinese-Australian dual citizen was CC-3. Hastie also cited an internal U.S. State Department document from 2007, labeled “sensitive but unclassified,” that linked Chau to the Chinese Communist Party. It seems he has forgotten or disregarded the right all Australian citizens have to a presumption of innocence unless proven otherwise,” it added. Turnbull has since sought advice from Australian security agencies about the implications of Hastie publicly sharing a confidential briefing about an FBI investigation.

Source: National Post May 23, 2018 06:06 UTC