Thanks to the dodgy dealings exposed by former MP Jami-Lee Ross, the National Party appears to have become the first New Zealand political party to be investigated by the Serious Fraud Office:
Police have referred Jami-Lee Ross' complaint about National's election donations to the Serious Fraud Office.
Ross, who was kicked out of the National Party last year, lodged a complaint with police in October.
A police statement today did not refer to Ross by name but said:
"Police have referred to the Serious Fraud Office a complaint received in October last year in relation to the disclosure of political donations under the Electoral Act.
"The complaint has been referred to the SFO as they hold the appropriate mandate to look further into matters raised by the investigation to date.
The mandate of the SFO is to investigate serious or complex fraud. Being investigated by it is a big deal, and (in NZ political jargon) Not A Good Look. Hopefully they'll get to the bottom of any financial shennanigans and efforts to evade the transparency requirements of the Electoral Act and bring anyone who has committed a crime to justice.
