Ernest Wong and Jonathan Yee face court over alleged 2015 electoral funding violation

Two state Labor officials charged over their alleged involvement in an electoral funding violation during Premier Chris Minns’ election campaign over a decade ago faced court for the first time on Tuesday. Former MP Ernest Wong and former Chinese Friends of Labor chairman, Jonathan Yee appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court, over allegations they participated in a scheme to circumvent electoral funding laws back in 2015. The alleged scheme relates to political donations disclosed for the campaign of NSW Labor’s candidate for the State district of Kogarah at the 2015 State general election, the NSW Electoral Commission said in a statement last week. Mr Wong was charged earlier this month with one count of give false/misleading evidence at public inquiry, six counts of procure false testimony at inquiry before Commission, and one count of circumvent prohibition or requirement re donations. Mr Yee was charged with one count of circumvent prohibition or requirement re donations, two counts of give false/misleading evidence at public inquiry, and eight counts of procure false testimony at inquiry before Commission. The court was told on Tuesday, Mr Yee is also alleged to have knowingly given false evidence to an ICAC hearing back in 2019. A series of bail conditions were imposed upon Mr Yee on Tuesday, after Judge Gregory Grogin deemed him an “unacceptable” flight risk. The court was told Mr Yee had various international trips planned in the next six months, and asked that his bail conditions allow him to attend those trips. However, Judge Grogin said the risk of Mr Yee failing to appear before the court if he were to be cleared to travel overseas was too great. He also ruled there was an unacceptable risk of Mr Yee interfering with witnesses. The court was told it is a “strong prosecution case” with serious charges and a likelihood of imprisonment if convicted. Mr Yee was granted conditional bail, and is to report to police weekly, surrender his passport, not contact or approach prosecution witnesses and is to provide a $10,000 surety. Meanwhile, Mr Wong was also hit with a series of bail conditions, including surrendering his passport, is not to go within 500 metres of any point of international departure from the Commonwealth of Australia, and is not to approach or communicate with any prosecution witness. The premier has not been accused of any wrongdoing and is not facing any legal action himself. The pair will next appear in court on 11 August.