A Chinese national has been arrested after allegedly trying to bribe an Australian public official with $20,000 in cash hidden in a bag of tea.
Police allege the 39-year-old handed the cash-filled bag to a female Commonwealth official from the Clean Energy Council at a business meeting in Camp Hill on July 9 and that he did so “for business gain”.
The woman reported the alleged incident, and an investigation was launched by Queensland Police, the Australian Federal Police, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The man was then arrested as he attempted to board a flight at Sydney Airport on July 24, and he was extradited to Queensland the next day charged with one count of gifting or offering a secret commission to an agent.
He appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday where he was refused bail, ABC News reported.
A Clean Energy Council spokesperson said it “recently became aware of an incident connected with its Approved Products Program”, but that every application to the program is “assessed against the same requirements and processes”.
“The Clean Energy Council does not comment on individual applications or matters concerning particular applicants,” they said.
Header image: The Chinese national being arrested (Queensland Police).
