March 12, 2013
Audit Office clears Jones of corruption slur
Labour List MP Shane Jones has returned to Labour’s front bench after an Audit Office report cleared him of any improper motive in approving citizenship for a Chinese businessman.
Labour Leader David Shearer stood Mr Jones down last May, a day before the High Court found Bill Liu, also known as Yang Liu and Yong Ming Yan, not guilty of making false immigration statements.
Auditor General Lyn Provost says the report by Queens Counsel Francis Cooke raised questions about whether the system for considering applications for citizenship included enough protection against the risk of corruption.
She says in Mr Jones case, there was no improper motive, collusion, or political interference.
But she says officials from the Department of Internal Affairs gave him inadequate information and advice about the case.
Mr Jones says he accepted the criticisms in the report, but he stands by his decision.
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