The story that won't go away...

Just 36 hours after Justice Brewer released his written judgement in the Bill Liu case, where he described Liu's conduct as "highly suspicious", there are more allegations this morning; the Herald reports:

A Chinese millionaire with multiple identities is accused by Chinese witnesses of corruptly obtaining false identity documents which he used to gain New Zealand citizenship.

The Auditor-General last week started an inquiry into how William Yan - also known as Yongming Yan and Yang Liu - was granted citizenship.

China claims Yan's real name is Yongming Yan and that he created the false identity of Yang Liu and used documents in that name to leave China, where he is wanted on allegations of multimillion-dollar fraud.

Nine Chinese witnesses gave statements to New Zealand authorities about how Mr Yan allegedly obtained fictitious documents including Chinese passports and ID cards, and household registration documents.

It is claimed that Mr Yan was able to use his links to unnamed politicians in China to influence officials to provide the false documents.

The statements were provided in 2009 when Auckland police officers went to China.

They are on the Auckland High Court file but the witnesses did not come to New Zealand to testify.

Prosecutor David Johnstone said that as Mr Yan's trial date drew nearer, "it became apparent the Chinese authorities were not making meaningful arrangements for witnesses to travel to New Zealand to give their evidence".

"The Crown had no choice but to confine its case to the documents offered to Australian and New Zealand immigration on behalf of Mr Yan."

The reason for the lack of action on China's part remains unclear, Mr Johnstone said.

Mr Yan was last month acquitted of five charges of making false statements on immigration and citizenship documents.

Justice Timothy Brewer said the evidence put before him "proves a situation that is highly suspicious".

Most of the documents were false but were filled out by others on Mr Yan's behalf.

"In the absence of firm evidence that the accused knew of the falsity ... there would need to be proof of dishonest intention in using the Liu Yang identity," the judge said.

"Such proof, of course, would have to come from admissible evidence.

"The Crown has not been able to put such evidence before me."

The Bill Liu case simply refuses to die. We wonder now what his fate will be if Francis Cooke QC finds that Shane Jones' decision to grant citizenship was the wrong decision. 

Had the Auditor-General ordered an inquiry under the Terms of Reference requested by David Shearer, the probity of Mr Jones' decision would not have come under scrutiny. We should be grateful that a more comprehensive inquiry is taking place, which will hopefully get to the bottom of this messy business.