May 2025 - the month of the "aggrieved" launderer

Just a week after alleged Ameribuild fraudster William Manning was refused reinstatement to his government job, a former General Manager of an Incorporated Club, anonymised to “QVM” and “NSI” respectively, also had his claim for interim reinstatement declined by the Employment Relations Authority.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) regulates gambling in New Zealand.  As a requirement of his job, QVM held a gambling licence.  Authority Member Eleanor Robinson’s determination notes:

[25] … QVM was by virtue of his position defined as a Key Person under the Gambling Act 2003.

[27] In or about 2 March 2023 [the Police] executed search warrants at QVM’s home and at the Club in relation to criminal charges…nothing of relevance had been found in the searches.

[30] On or about September 2023 QVM … was charged with money laundering and participating in an organised criminal group in connection with a wider investigation into the large-scale manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine…

[32] DIA… had become aware that QVM was facing serious criminal charges.  It advised he was not suitable as a Key Person and NSI could lose its gambling license if it continued to employ him…

So, QVM had to go.  Whether or not NSI followed all of the appropriate procedures in terminating QVM’s employment, while not of great interest in itself, will be the subject of a substantive claim for compensation which we will report in due course.  However, in relation to the criminal charges, QVM (and Manning) must be presumed innocent until proven otherwise by a criminal Court.

NZD 5,979 (£2,600) load-up limit

In late 2022, until January 2023 when ClubsNSW sacked its CEO Josh Landis and settled with whistleblower Troy Stolz (who was ClubsNSW’s AML/CTF compliance manager), we became aware that drug money could be laundered through the pokies (electronic gaming machines) by money mules, or “smurfs” in New Zealand just as easily as in NSW. Up to $5,979 cash can be pumped into a pokies machine in New Zealand.

How Much Money Can We Launder In A Day?  Jordan Shanks-Markinova demonstrates in this hilarious December 2022 YouTube video which has had over 4 million views.

While AML mechanisms in NSW Australia may have improved a little, we’re unaware of any similar improvements here.  No concerns, just apathy.  So we’re not surprised to see a case like this popping up in New Zealand’s employment jurisdiction.

Tristam Price, Editor

Employment law and AML research and reporting