The truth emerges...

We blogged last week about the trial of the multi-named Chinese man who we will, for the sake of clarity call Bill Liu. Now the truth is starting to come out; Stuff reports:

A Chinese millionaire on trial in the High Court at Auckland for fraud boasted to immigration officials that he had MP friends who would ensure he got citizenship.

The high-ranking officials were stunned when then Cabinet minister Shane Jones approved the application one day after getting his file. They were certain Yong Ming Yan, also known as Bill Liu, who had been red-flagged by Interpol, stood little chance.

But Yan leaned back in his chair, with his arms behind his head, and said he was 99 per cent confident he would get citizenship, the court was told yesterday.

"He said he had a lot of support from members of Parliament ... he was going to take them to China," Internal Affairs case officer Olele Johannes Gambo said.

If proven, the allegation of special treatment would be serious enough to warrant investigation by the police.

Yan was granted citizenship by Mr Jones in 2008, after officials repeatedly told him that Yan failed a required good character test, the court was told.

Mr Gambo said that when Yan was told he could not have citizenship, he said friends in Parliament would ensure he got it.

Mr Jones, who refused to comment on the allegations last night, was named in court with former Labour MP Dover Samuels.

The court was told Yan was sworn in as a citizen within a day of Mr Jones approving citizenship.

Yan had gained permanent residency and applied for citizenship in April 2008.

There was "a lot of pressure for us to complete the file", Mr Gambo told the court.

It was clear Yan would fail the good character test. He was wanted on Interpol Red Notices based on arrest warrants issued in China.

The file went to Mr Jones on May 23, 2008. Yan was sworn in as a New Zealander the next day. "It is very unusual," Mr Gambo said.

Internal Affairs investigating officer Bruce Ross told the court Yan was happy to let his application go to the minister.

The department then prepared a recommendation for the minister to decline the application on good character grounds.

Officials met twice with Mr Jones in Wellington. 

Our good troll Judge Holden tried to play the Pansy Wong defence last week. Yes, Pansy Wong was one of several MP's from around the House who wrote letters of recommendation on Liu's behalf. That's something that MP's are asked to do almost daily.

But Pansy Wong was NOT the Minister who refused to follow that recommendation of Immigration New Zealand officials that Liu's residency be revoked because of serious concerns as to his use of multiple identities and passports. That was David Cunliffe.

And Pansy Wong was NOT the Minister who approved Liu's application for New Zealand citizenship in May 2008. It was Shane Jones who approved the application in one day, despite briefings from Internal Affairs officials, a recommendation to decline the application, and the file being tagged with Interpol's interest in the applicant.

Ministers take an oath of office to serve the interests of all New Zealanders, not just those who fundraise for their parties. We'll wait for Judge Holden to parrallel this to the John Banks case, but the differences could not be greater. These are serious allegations against former Ministers of the Crown for decisions made in their capacities as Ministers. They warrant further investigation to ensure that Bill Liu did not buy New Zealand citizenship.

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