The Corruption and Crime Commission works to identify and target persons who have accumulated unexplained wealth through unlawful means. Unexplained wealth law requires a person who lives beyond their apparent means to justify the legitimacy of their financial circumstances.

Unexplained wealth law seeks to deter crime, particularly organised crime, by reducing the profitability of illegal activities. The Corruption and Crime Commission has the power to investigate and initiate confiscation proceedings in relation to unexplained wealth to disrupt crime in Western Australia.

In summary

Unexplained wealth - definition under the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000

The Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000 (the CPC Act) s 144(1) states that a person has unexplained wealth if the value of their wealth is greater than the value of their lawfully acquired wealth.

The value of a person’s wealth is the amount equal to the sum of the values of all the items of property, and all the services, advantages and benefits, that together constitute the person’s wealth (CPC Act s 144(2)).

The value of the person’s lawfully acquired wealth is the amount equal to the sum of the values of each item of property, and each service, advantage and benefit that both is a constituent of the person’s wealth and was lawfully acquired (CPC Act s 144(3)).

Guidelines for the public - the Commission's functions under the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000

Guidelines for the public - the CCC's functions under the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000