The recently appointed New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon campaigned on a law and order platform but it is left to be seen if he will do any better than his predecessors including Jacinda Ardern in helping Malaysians recover 1MDB money either held in or via New Zealand.
Meanwhile , as SarawakReport noted, the policy towards money launderers seems to be
There has been much talk about Jacinda Ardern being appointed to an UN or other international role given her exemplary leadership.
The facts however show that Jacinda Ardern failed a simple test of good governance when she did nothing to address the recovery of money stolen from 1MDB held by or via New Zealand entities.
TO BE READ WITH
Monday, October 1, 2018
Dear Ms Ardern, how do you say "NZ links to money stolen from 1MDB " in Maori?
Ardern began her speech with a greeting in Māori after entering the General Assembly carrying an orator's comb, gifted to her by Ngati Rehia. It is worn by leaders at prominent events and is an acknowledgement of her mana.
Which is all well and good, but this not so little theft and New Zealand's part in it remains outstanding:
As previously reported on this blog, New Zealand's Shewan inquiry's own work into NZ foreign trust should have led to the 1MDB theft, the proceeds of which are being hidden in part, by the family of Larry Low Hock Peng using a NZ Foreign Trsut.The beneficiaries include his son Jho Low, who has been the subject of international media attention since at least early 2015,with regards his central role in the 1MDB affair.
Despite all that reporting and ongoing investigations in the US, UK, Switzerland and Hong Kong, the Shewan Inquiry declared that there was no direct evidence of illicit funds being hidden in New Zealand foreign trusts.
The Shewan Inquiry managed to come to that conclusion despite Jho Low's visits to New Zealand on his private jet and yacht.That these visits did not come to the attention of the New Zealand Department Of Premier & Cabinet's National Security & Intelligence Group is hard to believe, given the amount of data concerning these visits in even the public domain.
Observed at Dunedin airport, this Bombardier BD-700 Global Express, made an interesting addition to an otherwise routine domestic flight. The aircraft registration is N689WM and the date 8 August 2015.
Global 5000 N689WM, operated by Malaysia based Wynton Group/Jet Aviation Flight Services Inc, arrived at Dunedin late morning 03 August direct from Bali. It is understood the passengers then caught a chartered Airwork/Inflite Metroliner for the journey to Queenstown.
One of the world's most spectacular superyachts is lording it at Auckland's waterfront.
The 91.5m Equanimity accommodates up to 26 guests and comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect from a billionaire owner.
The boat has a helicopter landing deck and boasts its own 20m pool, gym, spa, turkish bath, beauty salon, elevator, movie theatre and "beach club". The boat's interior is also said to be decorated in gold.
It is believed to be owned by reclusive Malaysian billionaire Jho Low who has been using it to entertain famous friends at exotic locations around the world.
Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx are said to be fans of the superyacht. Gangnam Style singer Psy, socialite Paris Hilton and actress-model Kate Upton are other well-known faces who have attended lavish parties on board.
The vessel was built in 2013 and is manned by a crew of 26.
In the past few months Equanimity has visited Florida, Holland, South Korea, Greenland, Alaska and Japan.
A crew member from a neighbouring vessel said it was thought the superyacht was in Auckland for maintenance work.
