Chinese national who son was recruited as a Harvard fencer bought coach's home ...

A young Harvard hopeful who managed to turn his dream of attending the prestigious Ivy League university into a reality two years ago got some potentially devastating news earlier this week.

The Boston Globe reports that in Jie 'Jack' Zhao purchased the Massachusetts home of Harvard's fencing coach Peter Brand in 2016 for $989,500, despite the fact that he had never seen the property and its assessed value was $549,300. 

Zhao also made a donation of $1 million to the National Fencing Foundation of Washington DC in 2013, who in turn gave a $100,000 grant to Brand's charitable fund the following year.

That was the year Zhao's older son started at Harvard, but he told The Crimson he had been granted early acceptance in late 2013, with both brothers claiming to have no knowledge of their father's dealings with Brand.

That initial donation to the NFF was made however in February 2013, well before the older son even applied to Harvard.

The money then went to Beard just three months after the IRS finally granted his foundation tax-exempt status. 

Jie 'Jack' Zhou

Peter Brand

Wheeling and dealing: Jie 'Jack' Zhou (left) enriched Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand (right) and his charity to the tune of $500,000 in the years before his son was admitted to the school

Money pit: Zhou purchased Brand's home (above) in 2016 for $989,500, despite the fact that he had never seen the property and its assessed value was $549,300

Money pit: Zhou purchased Brand's home (above) in 2016 for $989,500, despite the fact that he had never seen the property and its assessed value was $549,300

Money: He also donated $1 million to the National Fencing Foundation, who in turn gave a $100,000 grant to Brand's charitable foundation (IRS fling above)

Money: He also donated $1 million to the National Fencing Foundation, who in turn gave a $100,000 grant to Brand's charitable foundation (IRS fling above)

The purchase of the house and charitable donation may be the least problematic actions

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