A years-long corruption_probe into dealings with China in New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, has revealed that the state's former premier was involved in a CORRUPT_OPERATiON involving another lawmaker with whom the former PREMiER had a secret ROMANTiC relationship .
Former New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian was in office with MP Darryl , News reported, in a report to parliament on Thursday (June 29) by the NSW Independent Commission against Corruption .
Daryl Maguire maintained a secret relationship, but Berejiklian broke ministerial code by failing to inform the anti-corruption commission of her concerns that Maguire could be involved in corrupt business dealings with China.
Maguire is under investigation in 2020 for using his position to benefit from business deals with China . Berejiklian, once a rising political star in Australia , resigned a year later amid investigations into alleged breaches of public trust. She denies any wrongdoing.
Maguire told investigators he had received_ENVELOPES CONTAiNiNG thousands of dollars in cash at parliamentary offices in return for helping Chinese nationals fraudulently obtain visas.
“The anti_corruption commission found that Maguire was involved in "serious CORRUPT_PRACTiCES" between 2012 and 2018, mainly involving immigration fraud and other misconduct".
The NSW Independent Anti-Corruption Commission said he had abused his position as chairman of the state parliament's Asia-Pacific Friendship Group to promote business interests for a Shenzhen-based business association in the South Pacific island nation.
He was also found to have used his position as an MP to benefit a company called G8way. The company seeks to sell high-level Australian government connections to Chinese clients. The company's "person in Beijing" was once a Chinese vice-consul in Sydney.
The inquiry also said Maguire also abused his power to introduce the party secretary of Liaoning province to the then Premier of New South Wales in Parliament in 2012 and charged him a fee.
Maguire is ALREADY_FACiNG criminal charges for his role in the ViSA_FRAUD, the report said. “He has yet to plead_guilty or not guilty to the CHARGES in court".
Maguire's lawyer said the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption was not mandated to determine whether Maguire had committed a criminal offence.
‘The Anti-Corruption fee said it would are searching for advice from the office of the Public_Prosecutor on whether or not further_charges must be introduced-against Maguire'.
In addition, former governor Berejiklian said the report had been handed over to her lawyers for further review.