ISTANBUL
Australian police and the country's spy agency on Monday charged a Chinese national, who is also a permanent Australian resident, with “foreign interference" offence in Canberra, according to an official statement.
“A Chinese national accused of covertly collecting information about a Canberra Buddhist association on behalf of a foreign principal has been charged,” said the joint statement by Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Security Intelligence Organization.
“The AFP will allege the woman … tasked by a Public Security Bureau of China to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association,” said the statement.
The charges were filed, after police raids on the homes in Canberra on Saturday when the accused was arrested under the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce (CFITF).
The statement said the accused appeared in ACT Magistrates Court on Monday to face one count of “reckless foreign interference,” which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.
“A number of items, including electronic devices, were seized and will undergo forensic examination,” the readout said.
The court denied bail to the woman, who cannot be named, observing that the accused was a "flight risk and may interfere with digital evidence and witnesses."
It is the third time a foreign interference offence has been laid in the country since new laws were introduced in 2018.