Officials move to seize assets

The New Zealand authorities have begun moves to seize everything Warwick Reid owns, after the former Legal Department high-flyer was yesterday jailed for 21/2 years for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

An application under New Zealand's proceeds of crime laws has already restrained the Reid family home in Tauranga, said to be worth more than NZ$250,000 (HK$1.34 million), the gymnasium he bought for more than NZ$300,000 and bank accounts holding about NZ$300,000 in corrupt funds.

Detective Sergeant Bruce Russell of the New Zealand Police Asset Seizure Inquiry Team, said: 'The application has still to be activated but I would not think it was beyond the realms of possibility that his assets, accrued with the use of criminal funds, will be forfeited.' The new sentence came more than six years after Reid was convicted of taking HK$12.4 million in return for promises to fix prosecutions.

But last night his closest friend and solicitor, Robert Keam, insisted Reid could change and was determined to 'go straight'.

'If he hasn't learned his lesson this time he never will. I believe that he has changed for good this time.' But handing down sentence, Mr Justice Paterson struck a more sceptical note: 'He was in a position to know better and therefore his further prospects, including rehabilitation, do not look good.'