12 Jul 2023

Government pay China $38 million over forfeited money

From Morning Report, 8:18 am on 12 July 2023

New Zealand has given $38 million to China over a Canadian-Chinese businessman who laundered millions here for years, then last month tried to become mayor of Toronto.

Xiaohua Gong ran under the banner 'Here to rescue Toronto'.

But he forfeited a record $70 million in criminal proceeds in New Zealand just two years ago.

Now the government has given more than half that back to China.

Phil Pennington has the story.