Photo / FileThe wife of a Venezuelan Government official embroiled in an international corruption scandal has lost a bid to have more than $17 million in alleged dirty money unfrozen by police. Police claim Andreina Gamez Rodriguez committed money laundering by bringing the $17.5m - alleged bribe money - into New Zealand. The legislation allows a judge to grant a freezing order if there are "reasonable grounds" to believe someone has profited from "significant criminal activity". She also appealed on the basis there were not reasonable grounds to believe she herself had committed significant criminal activity. The final appeal ground was whether the Commissioner could establish Rodriguez had derived a benefit as determined by the act.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 26, 2020 04:14 UTC