The NZ DPRK Society has had its bank accounts closed down because a US$2,000 donation was made to the Red Cross of DPRK who purchased PPE gear for the DPRK Border Quarantine Service. Here is the timeline:
2020
January 21 China announces four deaths and 222 cases of a new unnamed coronavirus.
January 23 China places Wuhan under quarantine
North Korea closes border, cancels all flights and trains
February 12 WHO names the new coronavirus Covid-19
February 21 NZ DPRK Society receives request from Pyongyang for supply of Covid-19 testing supplies
March 5 US$2,000 international money transfer from ASB to bank account in Indonesia
March 13 Receipt received from Red Cross of the DPRK
March 20 Press release announcing donation to the Red Cross of DPRK
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO2003/S00096/donation-to-north-korea-for-covid-19-testing.htm
March 23 NZ moves to Alert Lockdown Level 3
May 20 Email from MFAT noting March 20 Press release and referring to MFAT and United Nations websites on Sanctions and advising that: “the Ministry strongly recommends that anyone thinking about doing business with or engaging with North Koreans or North Korean entities consult these resources and obtain independent legal advice to avoid breaching the New Zealand sanctions regulations”
June 4 Press release announcing use of donation by the Red Cross of DPRK for purchase of PPE Gear for the DPRK Border Quarantine Services
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO2006/S00021/nz-ngo-provides-ppe-gear-to-north-korea.htm
July 22 Phone call and email from the ASB Bank re the US2000 transfer asking:
1. Please advise the full name of the beneficiary, if this is an entity or an organisation, what is the nature of the organisation, is there any website for this organisation.
2. Please advise the purpose of this payment.
3. Please advise the relationship between you and [Indonesian ban account owner].
4. If the payment involved any product, please advise
a. What is the product
b. The origin and final destination of the product
c. Please provide us a copy of the invoice and shipping document.
July 23 Reply to ASB referring them to June 4 Press release
August 4 Phone call and email from ASB with further questions:
1. On 11//8/2011, an outgoing payment on NZ-DPRK Society of AUD$635.92 to beneficiary The Australia-DPRK Friendship & Cultural Society/ Ray Ferguson.
1) Can you please tell us the purpose of the payment?
2) Does it have any connection to North Korea?
3) If it is for a humanitarian project you have in North Korea, can you please share some more detail, ie the name of the project, and what the funds were used for?
4) If the funds were sent on from Australia to North Korea, who is the final beneficiary of the funds, ie name of the person/ organisation?
5) Were you provided with any invoice/ receipt for this payment you made? Can you please forward the document to us?
2. On 07/06/2019, an incoming payment on DONALD BORRIE MEMORIAL of USD$1000 from remitter PCUSA KOREA.
1) Can you please tell us the full name of the remitter?
2) Can you please tell us the purpose of the payment?
3) Does it have any connection to North Korea?
4) If it is for any humanitarian project you have in North Korea, can you please share some more details, ie the name of the project, and what the funds were used for?
5) Do you have any document in relation to this payment that you are able to share with us?
3. On 05/03/2020, an outgoing payment on DONALD BORRIE MEMORIAL of USD$2000. Thanks for letting us know Red Cross in DPRK was the final beneficiary of the funds, and provided us with the receipt. You also mentioned the payment was sent to North Korea from an intermediary.
1) Can you please let us know if [name of Indonesian account] is the intermediary account?
2) Can you please let us know the full name of ……..?
3) Does ………… have any website?
4) What is the nature of business for ……..?
5) How did Red Cross in DPRK receive your donation? Was it directly from ……..?
4. On 24/07/2020, a cash withdrawal of NZD$6935.00 was made at Sylvia Park Branch. Can you please let us know:
1) What is the purpose of this withdrawal?
2) What is your plan with the funds?
August 6 ASB Bank issues letter advising closure of the NZ DPRK Society’s bank accounts to take effect 21st August
August 13 Telephone discussion with ASB Manager Customer Risk, Technology & Operations and requested information as to why ASB had first approached asking questions about the $2000 transfer to Indonesia.
August 19th Email from ASB advising:
“These enquiries were initiated as a result of NZ Police alerting ASB to the existence of media releases which detailed a donation of US$2,000 to North Korea for the purchase of Covid-19 testing kits and related medical needs”.