His case came to light this week when details emerged about the corruption investigation into Ma Jian, a former State Security vice minister and one of the most senior intelligence officials in China .

He is accused of fabricating charges against businessmen like Mr Zheng to help another business associate take control of valuable assets.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made the fight against corruption the centrepiece of his first term in office and in recent months has stepped up efforts to repatriate corrupt officials residing overseas.

Sir Peter John Cosgrove, Governor-General of Australia, with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 5iphoto

In a sign of the importance of the campaign, Mr Xi raised it with Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, who visited Beijing this week. State-owned news agency Xinhua reported the pair talked about Australia and China increasing co-operation on law enforcement and anti-corruption efforts.

The campaign was previously known as Operation Fox Hunt, but has since been re-named Operation Skynet as it moves to the next level by bringing home so called "tigers" who have fled overseas.

The BBC reported this week the British and French governments had been handed a lists of corrupt government officials that Beijing wanted detained and repatriated.


Having been granted permanent residency in Australia 17 years ago, Mr Zheng was forced to stay in Melbourne after discovering during a business trip in 2008 that he was set to be arrested in his home country.

He has since invested around $40 million in property projects and tourism businesses in Australia . He is registered as a shareholder in eight Australian-based companies and owns at least 11 properties across Melbourne .

At the centre of this latest scandal is businessman Guo Wengui, who was last year ranked 74th on China 's Hurun rich list with an estimated fortune of RMB15.5 billion ($3.3 billion).

Mr Guo has since fled to the United States , following Mr Ma's detention in January but claims he is there for a leg operation and has done nothing wrong.

Mr Guo and Mr Ma reportedly worked together to pressure business rivals.

The investigative business magazine Caixin reported the pair had fabricated charges to gain leverage in business deals.

Mr Zheng was named by Caixin as a victim of this power play.

The investigation hit the headlines this week amid reports the security chief Mr Ma had six mistresses, two illegitimate sons and up to six villas in Beijing .

Mr Ma is the most senior intelligence official to be caught up in the anti-corruption campaign, which has been under way for the past three years.