Collectors hunt $100k owed by restaurant

Jonah Lomu says he regrets being taken in by Loizos Michaels, who invited him to be 'the global face of kickboxing'. Photo / Dean Purcell

An Auckland restaurant whose owner is under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office is being chased by debt collectors for nearly $100,000 in unpaid bills and has a senior gang member as a minder.

Plato's Greek Taverna on Ponsonby Rd, owned by businessman Loizos Michaels, began missing payments within months of opening in June last year.

Records from debt collection agency Veda Advantage show the restaurant has missed payments to a number of creditors, owing $10,000 to the Radio Network, $7000 to Coca-Cola Amatil and another $7000 to alcohol supplier Pernod Ricard.

Plato's Greek Taverna also owes $7000 to Easy Factors International, a finance company part-owned by National Party president Peter Goodfellow.

The Weekend Herald revealed a fortnight ago that Mr Goodfellow was helping an SFO investigation after lending his friend $100,000 to invest in a commercial venture with Mr Michaels.

Mr Michaels - known in Auckland circles as "Michael" - is a Cypriot from Melbourne who also co-owns the Dark Room, a neighbouring bar to Plato's.

He has denied any wrongdoing. Mr Michaels declined to comment when questioned about the debts owed by Plato's.

Former All Black Jonah Lomu last week told the Weekend Herald that he was duped by a proposal from Mr Michaels to become "the global face of kickboxing".

He said the big-money contract to promote a kickboxing world series was arranged by Mr Michaels, but Lomu was not paid and the venture failed last year.

"The worst part of it was that he was using my name," said Lomu. "I gave him a chance. He crapped on me."

Lomu was disappointed to have his name linked to the venture, which ended up on Fair Go when a group of young models did not get paid.

Police are also aware of activity at Plato's.

Members of the Hells Angels and King Cobra gangs have been eating and drinking at Plato's Greek Taverna, with senior Hells Angel Adam Riley living above the restaurant as a minder.

Riley was involved in a stand-off with debt collector Sean Sullivan, a former world champion boxer recently jailed for ripping off Housing NZ, who was hired by creditors owed money by Plato's.

Mr Michaels was also recently ordered by a High Court judge to give evidence in the liquidation of Trades R Us Ltd, owned by his ex-wife. The company owes more than $400,000 to creditors.