The senior manager of a renewable energy technology company, Allen Zhu, was yesterday sentenced following a joint investigation by the Queensland Police Service, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Australian Federal Police into the attempted bribery of a Commonwealth public official.
Mr Zhu had pleaded guilty to charges of offering a secret commission to an agent under section 442BA of the Queensland Criminal Code 1899. Mr Zhu was sentenced to a term of 12 months imprisonment, immediately suspended, after having spent 26 days in custody.
Operation Lota investigated an incident where Mr Zhu offered a Commonwealth public official $20,000 in cash hidden inside a bag of tea to expedite the product approval process for a Commonwealth rebate scheme.
Acting National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Kylie Kilgour said the court’s decision underlines the severe risks of attempting to compromise Commonwealth decision‑making.
“This result sends a clear message that attempting to influence public officials for commercial gain strikes at the heart of public trust and carries serious consequences.”
“The integrity demonstrated by the public official who immediately reported this bribe was vital to the investigation.”
“Today’s outcome highlights the power of seamless multi-agency collaboration in holding offenders to account.”
Mr Zhu’s lawyer advised the court he would be leaving Australia immediately.