White collar suspects should have their assets frozen too

If police are going to freeze the assets of gang members in Maketu, they should also treat suspects of white crime in a similar manner, says Maori Party MP for Waiariki Te Ururoa Flavell.

"People in my electorate have said they have no problem with a Maketu man's assets being frozen if he purchased them as a result of criminal activity,” Mr Flavell said.

"However it upsets them, and me, when we hear and read stories in the media of numerous directors and businessmen suspected of taking millions of dollars from struggling families, but not being given the same treatment by the police as the man in Maketu or Allan Hubbard in Timaru, who has had his personal assets and trusts frozen.”

Mr Flavell understood there were many other white collar suspects of crime, who should have their assets - both business and personal - frozen, including Bridgecorp boss Rod Petricevic and finance director Rob Roest who are facing fraud charges.

“Then we have the four directors of failed finance company Nathans Finance John Hotchin, Mervyn Doolan, Roger Moses and Donald Young who have criminal charges laid against them.

“There’s also Hanover Finance director Eric Watson, more known perhaps as the Warrior’s owner.

“Why have their assets not been frozen like those of Mr Hubbard?”

ENDS

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