From Fairfax:
The Australian Federal Police are poised to seize assets of corrupt Chinese officials within weeks, in an unprecedented joint operation with its Chinese counterparts.
In an exclusive interview with Fairfax Media, Commander Bruce Hill, the manager of the AFP’s operations in Asia, has confirmed Australia has agreed to assist China in the extradition and seizure of assets of corrupt officials who have fled to Australia with illicit funds running into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
The joint operation will make their first forfeiture of assets within weeks, having agreed on a priority list of alleged economic fugitives who have taken residence in Australia – identified by Beijing as one of the most popular outlets for corrupt Chinese money.
…”As time goes on, they start to put [their funds] into legitimate assets such as houses and property and shares and bank accounts and then the money becomes their wealth…All criminals will always go where the weakest link is,” Mr Hill said. “In the interim we’re trying to develop strategies to make sure these people don’t think they can just go to Australia and live happily ever after.”
