March 13 2017
Lawyers, accountants and real estate agents will now be covered by anti-money laundering legislation, if a government bill is passed. The new legislation is intended to make it harder for criminals to profit from and fund illegal activities. Justice Minister Amy Adams introduced the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill to Parliament today.
“Money laundering allows criminals to fund their lifestyle and it fuels re-investment in criminal ventures,” she said. “Extending the law will improve our ability to prevent, detect and prosecute many types of criminal activity and help protect New Zealand’s reputation as a good place to do business.”