A Melbourne-based Asian community leader who has been accused of planning foreign interference on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been committed to stand trial.
The decision was made on July 28 by Melbourne magistrate Susan Wakeling who found enough circumstantial evidence for the case against Duong to go to trial. Wakeling also said that the evidence “taken at its highest” could support a guilty conviction.
Duong has formally pleaded not guilty to a charge of intentionally engaging in conduct with the intention of preparing for, or planning, foreign interference.
Under the 2018 National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act, the maximum penalty for “preparing for a foreign interference offence” is 10 years imprisonment….