this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2024
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Criminal proceeds recovery: Couple in legal battle with police to keep $232,000 found in roof space (www.rnz.co.nz)
submitted 2 months ago by Ilovethebomb@lemmy.nz to c/newzealand@lemmy.nz
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Police don't even know whose money it is, or where it came from. I think they should be able to keep it.

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[–] absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

This case is strange, the money is almost certainly from drug dealing.

IANAL, consider two other situations:

  • The couple never discovered the money, they sell the house in 20 years...the crown never sees any of it.
  • The couple discovers the money without the electrician, they tell no one and slowly spend the cash, the crown gets the GST portion of the money back...

The other point I would make as the lawyer in this case is "How would taking this money; prevent future crime?"

The legislation is used by police to separate criminals from their ill-gotten gains, fighting crime by confiscating the profits that make it worthwhile.

The compromise the crown could make, is that the money is taxed as income. They get 33% + 15% of any money spent.

The moral of the story, is if you find a butt load of cash, don't tell anyone.