In a shocking turn of events, an ambitious couple has been relinquished from the vast plains of Australia following a scandalous fraud involving bank loans exceeding $9 million. The couple, imprisoned and subsequently extradited to New Zealand, manipulated multiple banking institutions with cunning deceit to build a formidable real estate empire.
Shanshan Mao, an adept lending manager, and her spouse are the masterminds behind this astounding exploit. Having lived a modest life across the Tasman Sea for nearly ten years, Mao found herself confined behind bars in March of the preceding year for a term spanning three years. Paroled just six months later and having her freedom momentarily fleeting, the 42-year-old woman is now biding her time at an immigration detention centre awaiting her forced return to her former home in New Zealand.
Detailed in a recent determination by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia, Mao’s passionate plea to remain in her adopted home since 2014 was laid out, juxtaposed by the criminal activities that effectively terminated her residency. From her Chinese birthplace to her pursuit of tertiary education in New Zealand alongside her future husband, Shaoijing Niu, and their subsequent citizenship, the narrative is as compelling as it is unfortunate.
Their life together saw them raising four children, engaging in economic and business studies, undertaking meaningful employment, and investing in residential properties. Lured by the prospect of better career opportunities, they decided to relocate to Australia in 2014. Mao found her footing as a lending manager at Westpac Bank and subsequently ANZ Bank, with Niu continuing his trade as a locksmith. However, shortly after setting foot on Australian soil, the duo embarked on a shadowy venture that would starkly tarnish their seemingly normal life.
The couple’s audacious criminal venture was to deceive banks via falsified loan applications to gain funds for numerous property investments and developments. Astoundingly, they even fabricated erroneous information about Niu’s employment status, assets, and liabilities to emulate authenticity. The entire operation was exposed by a diligent ANZ Bank investigator, leading to Mao’s inevitable expulsion from her place of employment.
In 2019, the couple found themselves entangled in more legal complications, with a wealth restraining order placed over their substantial property and bank holdings. Having been charged with eight counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, they pleaded guilty in the County Court of Victoria. It was determined that their duplicitous endeavors had netted them over $9 million, significantly bolstering their financial stability through property acquisition, refinancing of existing loans, and construction projects in Melbourne.
After serving their prison sentences, both Mao and Niu had their visas disqualified under the Australian Migration Act’s section 501, leading to their swift deportation. Despite the couple’s ejection, Mao attempted to appeal against the ruling, insisting on her minimal involvement in the scheme and expressing her regret and lesson learned during her incarceration. Despite her pleas about potential difficulties with her children’s education and her husband’s parole restrictions affecting her living situation, the tribunal stood firm with the original decision to revoke Mao’s visa.
The Tribunal deemed that Mao’s immoral conduct was indeed severe with an evident risk of recidivism, yet to undergo extensive rehabilitation, she would need to return to New Zealand, where it was concluded that the children would adapt to their new life circumstances. However dire the ramifications of their dishonest venture were, it was acknowledged that their return home presented hurdles that could be surmounted.
