Perspectives of an ex Federal Prosecutor who is familiar with Mossack Fonseca on likely responses of Australian authorities (ATO, AFP) to the Panama Papers. Read more
Confiscations & Proceeds of Crime
Family Law: Confiscations & Proceeds of Crime
The convergence of family law with criminal property confiscation or proceeds of crime proceedings can complicate matters for both criminal & family lawyers. I set out some basic principles and considerations when your client is affected by both family law and confiscation or proceeds of crime proceedings. Read more
CPCA – Crime-Used and Crime-Derived Confiscation Cases
On 20 November 2015 I delivered a presentation on the CPCA 2000 – Crime Used and Crime Derived Cases.
The full text paper is available for free download. Read more
Drug Trafficker Cases – Criminal Property Confiscation Act
Presentation on Drug Trafficker Cases under the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000 (WA) by Edward Greaves. Full text paper available for free download. Read more
CPD Seminar on Drug Trafficker Cases
I will be presenting at Legalwise Seminars’ Criminal Law Symposium in Perth on 26 March 2015. My presentation is on the topic of Drug Trafficker cases under the Criminal Property Confiscations Act 2000 (WA). Read more
FATF report pending: Scrutiny of AUSTRAC’s effectiveness
Australia has recently undergone a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluation. A recent Radio National program considers AUSTRAC’s emphasis on education rather than regulation and enforcement and analyses its effectiveness. Read more
High Court stays Proceeds of Crime action pending criminal trial: Commissioner of the AFP v Zhao & Jin
The High Court stayed Proceeds of Crime action pending the criminal trial in Commissioner of AFP v Zhao & Jin handed down 12 February 2015. The judgment considers sections 319 and 266A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Read more
Effect of proceeds of crime orders on sentence
The Western Australian Court of Appeal has delivered an important judgment, R v Host, which considers the proper approach to sentencing an offender whose property has been the subject of orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth). The Court gave detailed consideration to s 320 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth). It allows for a sentence to be reduced where the offender has cooperated with proceeds of crime authorities. Read more
Criminal Property Confiscation & Proceeds of Crime CPD
The Law Society of Western Australia is offering a CPD (CLE) seminar on Confiscations and Proceeds of Crime to be held in Perth on 6 November 2014. My session will explore the typical interlocutory steps in litigating a matter under either the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000 (WA) or the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth). Read more
A light-hearted look at civil forfeiture
A US comedy sketch takes a look at civil forfeiture.
Some of the risks identified in the programme are present in some Australian laws. There is however less direct incentivising of Australian Police. In the US some county forces can keep up to 100% of the property they seize. That is not the case in Australia.
The presumption of forfeiture though is found in some Australian laws, including the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000 (WA). This means the onus is on the owner of the property to show the property should not be confiscated, rather than the other way around. Read more