Police are accusing a convicted fraudster of dishonesty in her bid to access KiwiSaver funds.
Joanne Harrison Photo: supplied
Joanne Harrison was jailed and then deported to Britain after defrauding the Transport Ministry of more than $700,000.
Last year, she requested $23,000 from her KiwiSaver on the grounds of financial hardship.
A hearing was held at the High Court in Wellington today, where the Police Commissioner was seeking forfeiture of that money.
The commissioner's lawyer, Andrew Britton, said Harrison's claim of hardship was dishonest.
He said she had planned to use the funds to repay debts.
"It continues a repeated pattern of dishonesty by Miss Harrison to various agencies - whether it's the Ministry of Transport, or to her own fund manager, whereby she seeks to put herself first," he said.
However, Harrison's lawyer Nathan Bourke said the money had never been in her control.
"They've remained at all times in the accounts controlled by her KiwiSaver provider ... for those reasons the existing authority, the KiwiSaver Act and Justice Ellis's decision, would prevent the funds being restrained," he said.
Last year, the police seized a house, jewellery, cash and a vehicle from Harrison.
Justice Gwyn reserved her decision.
