Alleged conman flees country

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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.

- NZPA