By Patrick Gower
Yong Ming Yan claims to be a Chinese pro-democracy leader - which puts him at risk back in Communist China.
But at the same time, Mr Yan – also known as Bill Liu – has also been boasting of his connections at the very top of the Communist Party.
New documents show how Mr Liu boasted to officials about bringing Xu Ming – listed as the 8th wealthiest person in China with a reported wealth of over $1.5 billion dollars – to New Zealand.
But Xu Ming is also a leading figure in the Communist Party - in fact he was touted as a potential finance minister.
He was a right-hand man to Bo Xilai, a man tipped to take over from Premier Wen Jiabao.
That's until his recent downfall in a scandal that includes his wife being investigated for the death of a British national.
Yan has, of course, caused plenty of political scandal here, after Shane Jones granted him citizenship against official advice.
Mr Jones has claimed he granted Mr Yan citizenship because officials said advised he would be executed if sent back to China.
But while documents relating to that advice have been withheld, they do show Mr Yan was desperate to go somewhere – he wanted a special ceremony so he could get his passport within days.
So at the same time Mr Liu argued he was a political dissident who could “disappear without trace in China”, he boasted of bringing a Communist party figure to New Zealand. Despite this kind of inconsistency Mr Jones granted him citizenship – a decision now under investigation by the Auditor-General.
The Yong Ming Yan/Bill Liu/William Yan timeline
May 2005 – Yan (Bill) Liu applies for New Zealand citizenship
June 2005 – Revealed Mr Liu is under investigation by the NZ Intelligent Service
August 2005 – Mr Liu asks the Immigration Minister that his request be processed urgently. Immigration put his request on hold after a red flag at the intelligence service.
August 2006 – Liu’s birth certificate requested
October 2007 – Interpol is contacted again by Immigration. Mr Liu’s lawyers sent a letter to Rick Barker, then Minister of Internal Affairs, saying the delays with the citizenship are “grossly unfair”. “You have caused our client, his partner and children who are all New Zealand citizens, unnecessary stress and hardship,” they say.
December 2007 – It is confirmed Liu is still the subject of an Interpol red notice/ warrant to arrest in China. He is wanted for arrest in China for “significant financial fraud”.
January 2008 – Mr Liu’s lawyer inform Immigration that he is happy to pay the costs of flying in a Mandarin interpreter to Wellington to speed up his application.
February 2008 – Mr Liu’s lawyer says the matter of citizenship needs to be “dealt with urgently”. An interview with Liu takes place in Auckland.
March 2008 – Mr Liu’s application progresses to the next level. Immigration asks him for his birth certificate, current and expired passports and a register of households. Four days later, Immigration is sent those things from Mr Liu’s lawyer. A week later, Immigration reply asking him why he has multiple identities, what is his true name, if birth certificate is real and they question the legality of his details.
April 2008 – Police execute a search warrant in regards to Mr Liu.
May 2008 – Mr Liu phones Immigration NZ and tells them he is stateless.
June 2008 – Mr Liu phones again saying he will face the death penalty if he is sent back to China. He also says he was impressed at the way he had been treated by the New Zealand Government.
July 2008 – Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker gives the responsibility of Mr Liu’s citizenship to Associate Immigration Minister Shane Jones to avoid a perceived conflict of interest. Mr Liu also hires top lawyer John Billington QC. Shane Jones is advised he should decline the citizenship application.
August 2008 – Mr Billington make a direct submission about the citizenship to Shane Jones. Shane Jones approves Mr Liu’s application. Immigration Minister Dover Samuels requests an urgent citizenship ceremony. Four days later the ceremony takes place. The following day, Mr Liu is issued with a New Zealand passport after urgently requesting one. He later changes his name to William Yan.
3 News
source: newshub archive
