Controversial Chinese millionaire Donghua Liu back in court

Donghua Liu is back in court. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A controversial Chinese millionaire is back in court, this time over alleged building-regulation breaches.

Donghua Liu, 54, was last before Auckland District Court in June, after a protracted case regarding domestic-violence allegations against his partner and her mother.

The charges were dismissed after both complainants recanted their statements.

Liu now faces six charges laid by Auckland Council alleging he permitted demolition of a stone wall and the cutting of trees down trees without resource consent on land where he plans to build an ambitious housing project.

The Herald previously revealed the businessman owned nearly 20,000sq m of land in Newmarket and was preparing a resource consent application for a residential apartment development to be lodged with city planners.

Auckland Council began investigating Liu in March after a basalt stone retaining wall on a boundary with a neighbouring property, which is for sale, was allegedly destroyed by a digger and a number of trees were also cut down.

This morning the council laid six charges covering activities at 76 Gillies Ave.

They each attract a maximum penalty of up to $300,000.

Jointly charged are building contractor Kelly Ronald Parsons, 45, and Liu's company Roncon Pacific Hotel Management Ltd.

The defendants were due to appear in Auckland District Court this morning but the case was administratively adjourned until next month.

Liu is no stranger to such proceedings after he was convicted and fined more than $18,000 in October last year upon admitting breaches of the Building Act and Resource Management Act following another prosecution by Auckland Council.

The charges arose from excavation work underneath two properties he owns, including his $4.75 million family home in Remuera and a $3.5 million property in Epsom.

Liu hit the headlines last year when Maurice Williamson was forced to resign as a minister after Herald investigation revealed the MP telephoned senior police officer about Liu's domestic violence charges.