A charity run by the Head Hunters gang has used police officers to oversee its lottery and draw lucky numbers for the $40,000 first prize.
The That Was Then, This Is Now Charitable Trust also gains police support for Fight Night boxing events run from the gang's East Auckland headquarters.
The revelation has prompted Police Minister Judith Collins to call for an explanation from Police Commissioner Howard Broad tomorrow. "I am not comfortable with police supervising lottery draws organised by senior members of the Head Hunters gang," Collins said.
"I believe it is sending the wrong signal at a time when New Zealanders need to have confidence that the police are doing everything they can to stamp out gangs."
Collins said it was "time for some common sense" and there would be other people the trust could call on to oversee its lottery. "I will be seeking a full briefing from Police Commissioner Howard Broad on Monday on why police are involved. I would prefer it if they were not."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10559336Judith Collins would be much smarter to seize the assets of the Trust and investigate every donation made to it and distribution from it using anti-money laundering and proceeds of crime legislation.
The lottery itself could possibly be caught under the definition of money laundering.
