"Forfeiture of assets leads to $620,000 recovered"

A Police Asset Recovery Unit investigation into the misappropriation of funds from a government department is leading to the recovery of about $620,000.

Since June 2016, the Police Asset Recovery Unit, based in Wellington, has been investigating Ms Joanne Harrison, former General Manager at the Ministry of Transport.

Ms Harrison was sentenced to three years seven months’ imprisonment for the misappropriation of $726,836.07 from the Ministry.

The Asset Recovery Unit restrained assets belonging to Ms Harrison and her husband, including a residential property in the Far North, cash, jewellery and a vehicle.

Forfeiture of those assets was sought, resulting in orders issued by the Wellington High Court this month.

Those orders will yield about $620,000, which will go toward recouping the misappropriated money.

“Ms Harrison’s offending was selfish and driven purely by greed and financial gain.

The Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act has been successfully utilised to recover the stolen funds,” Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Murray of the Central Asset Recovery Unit says.

“We ask community members who think someone may be benefitting financially from a crime to contact their local Police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

ENDS

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