An alleged conman at the centre of a $3 million fraud which
used rugby great Jonah Lomu's name, is thought to have fled
the country.
Auckland businessman Loizos Michaels told a judge he needed
his passport back so he could visit his sick mother in
Australia.
However, he failed to appear in the Auckland District Court a
month after he was meant to be back in New Zealand, the New
Zealand Herald reported today
An arrest warrant has been issued.
Michaels owned Plato's Greek Taverna in the Auckland suburb
of Ponsonby. He faced Serious Fraud Office charges involving
fraud totalling $3 million.
His passport was handed back after he told the court he
wanted to visit his mother and in spite of crown suggestions
he was a flight risk.
Serious Fraud Office director Adam Feeley said he would seek
an extradition order to bring Michaels back to New Zealand.
During the alleged fraud Michaels used Jonah Lomu's name in a
deal to buy luxury apartments in Taupo.
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