Police are applying to seize a Bay of Islands home linked to convicted fraudster Joanne Harrison, saying she bought it using the proceeds of crime.
Harrison, who had previously worked as a senior manager at the Far North District Council, stole more than $720,000 while employed at the Ministry of Transport and was sentenced earlier this year to three and a half years in jail.
Land records show Harrison bought a 1.1ha property at Waimate North in early 2008, when she was still working for the Far North District Council as general manager for customer focus and culture.
The property is a stone's throw from one of New Zealand's most historic sites, Te Waimate Mission. It has a capital value of $460,000, according to council records, and sold for $537,500 in 2007.
During sentencing in the Manukau District Court on February 21, Serious Fraud Office prosecutor Sarah Allen said Harrison paid off her $364,000 mortgage during her four years of offending. Allen said she then transferred the property to her husband, Patrick Sharp, so it couldn't be used for reparation.