The Case of Di Sanh “Sunny” Duong: From Boastful Businessman to Convicted Spy
In a shocking turn of events, Di Sanh “Sunny” Duong, a 68-year-old Vietnamese-born Australian businessman, has gone from boasting about his status in society to being convicted of planning an act of foreign interference on behalf of Beijing.
Not long after their first meeting, Mr. Duong boldly declared that if Australia was looking for Chinese spies, he fit the profile, but authorities would never accuse him of being Chinese intelligence. Despite acknowledging that he could come off as suspicious in the current anti-China climate in Australia, he believed his ties to a major political party would protect him from any trouble.
However, his confidence was shattered when he became the first person to be charged under Australia’s foreign interference laws in 2020. Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Duong had ties to the Chinese Communist Party and had attempted to influence an Australian government minister on behalf of Beijing.
During the trial, Mr. Duong presented two conflicting personas: a savvy operator pushing China’s agenda or a bombastic braggart, according to the defense. Despite his outlandish explanations for his actions, the jury found him guilty of preparing for foreign interference. In December, he was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, with an expected year behind bars.
From a successful businessman making tombstones to a convicted spy, the case of Di Sanh “Sunny” Duong serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of misplaced confidence and questionable allegiances.
