Huang Xiangmo denies ever shopping at Aldi or donating $100,000 cash to the NSW ALP
The Chinese property developer at the centre of an Independent Commission Against Corruption political donations inquiry, Huang Xiangmo, has denied he's ever shopped at Aldi, let alone donated $100,000 cash to the Labor Party.
The inquiry at ICAC has heard that Huang, whose Australian resident return visa was cancelled last year, was the alleged donor of the cash delivered in an Aldi bag after a 2015 fundraising dinner.
As a developer, Mr Huang was not allowed to make political donations.
Huang was here in Australia previously heading Yuhu Group.
Speaking for the first time since the inquiry started from Hong Kong where he now resides, Mr Huang reportedly exclusively told The Australian Financial Review reporter Su-Lin Tan the donation had "absolutely nothing to do with him".
“I am not the source of the alleged donation. I do not know any of the alleged donors of the sum or any of the 'straw donors' as referred to in recent reports, nor have I ever had any contact with them," he said.
The AFR advised Huang never visited an Aldi supermarket when he was living in Australia, let alone used an Aldi bag.
"Some Australian media outlets are taking advantage of me to sensationalise the story ... while I understand the media's need to produce content, I hope it will direct its attention to pushing for reforms and get on its useful role as the fourth estate," he said.
The Australian newspaper advised a statement had been posted by a Chinese community website, Today Media in the name of Huang.
Earlier this year the exiled Chinese billionaire spoke about being banned from living in Australia because of his alleged connections to the Chinese government.
In the exclusive AFR article he told Su-Lin Tan that he demanded that $2.7 million in official donations he gave to both major political parties be returned so he can donate them to charity.
In July the paper's Su-Lin Tan reported exclusively that the Huang family had "exited its equity interests in two towers, Jewel on the Gold Coast and One Circular Quay in Sydney but will continue to complete the projects." However this has been denied by the development company.
In 2018 the AFR claimed it exclusively revealed Sydney developer Yuhu Group had acquired Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda's Sydney and Gold Coast residential and hotel mixed-used projects for $1.13 billion.
His wife Huang Jiefang recently bought one of Hong Kong’s most expensive residences, paying $HK520 million ($95 million) for a newly built house in Repulse Bay.
Mr Huang’s former Mosman abode is also held in his wife’s name since it was bought new in 2012 for $12.8 million.