Conman's taint hurts resort developer

A property investor targeted by an international conman has spoken of his distress at being a victim of the same fraudster who snared the wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Auckland businessman Evan Williams found himself painted as the backer of a luxury Fijian resort catering for paedophiles.

But it turned out to be a calculated slur by Peter Foster, known as Australia's worst conman, who wanted to possess the 101ha of the Yasawa Islands in Fiji which Mr Williams and business partners are developing.

The $30 million Champagne Beach resort aims to be the jewel in Fiji's tourism crown.

Australian and Fiji police are now investigating Foster, who has lived in Fiji since 2001 after skipping Britain and charges laid there by the Serious Fraud Office.

Fiji's Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kevueli Bulamainaivalu, told the Sydney Morning Herald police had raided Foster's home but he was not there.

Mr Williams, who is married with four sons, told the Herald that Foster forged emails in his name promising Fijian boys available for sex "as young as you want them to be".

Foster, who has been jailed five times on three continents, also used Williams' name to describe the Champagne Beach resort as a "heavenly haven for homosexuals".

"At one level it seems so unreal and ludicrous that you think you shouldn't be worried," said Mr Williams.

"Then you think paedophile? My name? It makes me sick."

The bogus emails and internet sites caused outrage in Fiji from conservative church and community leaders, opening the way for Foster, who wanted the property for himself.

But Fiji police exposed the corporate identity theft and say they are pursuing Foster and four associates for the emails aimed at sabotaging Mr Williams' interest in the development.

Mr Williams said: "The evidence they have uncovered shows it was a deliberate internet campaign that was designed to make it impossible for Government officials to continue to do business with me."

WHO IS EVAN WILLIAMS?

* Director of property investment company Williams Capital.

* Director of Parents Inc (formerly Parenting With Confidence).

* Former chairman of Chapman Tripp Sheffield Young.

* Former chairman of Auckland City Mission.