'Phantom' businessman fights extradition

Loizos Michaels fled NZ while facing $3 million fraud charges. Photo / Brett Phibbs

An alleged con man accused of ripping off the rich and famous, who skipped the country when he was due to stand trial, is making a last ditch attempt to stop being extradited back to New Zealand.

Loizos Michaels, 44, is currently being held in custody in a Gold Coast jail after being arrested by the Australian Federal Police, who are cooperating with New Zealand authorities.

He was due to stand trial in Auckland in March on fraud charges involving $3 million.

However, before the trial he was released on bail and his passport returned when he told Auckland District Court he needed to visit his sick mother in Melbourne.

Michaels, who is said to be fond of calling himself The Phantom, went to Australia and did not return, but was arrested there on February 25.

He is contesting an extradition order for him to be brought to New Zealand next Wednesday, claiming he will not have a fair trial here, his lawyer Jim Coburn told NZPA today.

"Basically he doesn't feel as though he'll get a fair trial in New Zealand because of some of the noteworthy people who are involved.

"From what he tells me he seems to have upset a few influential people."

The alleged victims include Jonah Lomu, whom Michaels allegedly promised to make "the global face of kick boxing".

"I trusted him. I gave him a chance. He crapped on me," Lomu told the Herald.

Michaels made a brief appearance in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday to try and halt the extradition and would have one final chance to make his case on the day his plane was due to depart for Auckland, Mr Coburn said.

In February, Australian media reported police in Victoria were also interested in speaking to Michaels about allegations he defrauded Victorian investors of millions of dollars.

- NZPA