Police warn about suspicious persons acquiring assets without apparent legitimate means
Money from the sale of a fraudulently obtained house is set to be returned to the Tenths Trust.
The High Court in Wellington has forfeited a $1.5 million Plimmerton house that was fraudulently obtained from the Tenths Trust by Lorraine Skiffington and Sir Ngatata Love.
The deception was revealed in June 2016, resulting in Love’s imprisonment for two and a half years. Meanwhile, charges against Skiffington were halted due to illness. She has since passed away.
The Commissioner of Police restrained the Plimmerton property and the High Court in Wellington approved the police’s sale order under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act. The property was eventually sold to protect as much equity as possible as mortgage arrears occurred.
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After the forfeit, the High Court decided that the proceeds from the sale of the Plimmerton house shall be returned to the Tenths Trust.
Brent Murray, detective senior sergeant at the Central Asset Recovery Unit, commented that he was pleased that the money will be returned to the victims of the fraudulent behaviour. He also warned about suspicious financial activities and persons who are accumulating wealth and assets without apparent legitimate means.
“Returning this money will reduce as much of the financial loss caused to the trust and its beneficiaries, descendants of the Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama and Taranaki Iwi, as possible. We are hopeful the outcome of this proceeding will make a difference for the victims of this serious crime,” said Murray.
“The message here is clear, if any person attempts to profit from crime, they risk lengthy terms of imprisonment and the loss of their assets.”
