Website flak for mystery bidder

By KARYN SCHERER

A mysterious American who claims his technology will revolutionise communications in New Zealand has been described as a "two-bit hustler" on his own website.

Shawn Okun, who together with several New Zealand businessmen is trying to engineer a takeover of investment company Wilson Neill, boasted a prodigious past in the computer industry during a visit to New Zealand in February.

A Wilson Neill press release described him as a "former Nasa scientist".

But Herald inquiries have cast doubt on Mr Okun's claims.

Last week, someone claiming to be an investor owed money by Mr Okun hacked his website and posted several pages about dozens of failed companies with which he has supposedly been involved.

Far from being "an international wireless television communications and internet service provider with fibre and satellite backbone networks in the US and Central America", the message alleged, his company's only asset was a failed internet casino in Costa Rica.

"The only thing true about Shawn Okun [aka Shawn O'Kun] is that he is currently employed as an airline pilot with US Airways, hired on July 8, 1985. He is married to a flight attendant, Ana Bonilla."

The person posting the information claimed their motive was to warn potential investors, as others had lost "tens [and in some cases hundreds] of thousands of dollars" to Mr Okun.

The information has since been removed.

Auckland businessman Alan Merrie, who with property developer Mark Dent is trying to engineer the takeover with Mr Okun, said he was confident his American colleague was bona fide, despite the claims.

Mr Merrie, who is in Singapore trying to organise finance for the deal, conceded that Mr Okun might have made mistakes in the past.

"I do know he has said some things and done some things he really probably would have been better to do differently," he said.

He did not know whether Mr Okun worked for US Airways, but had "heard that claim".

Regardless, WeCU's wireless technology was "nothing short of brilliant", he said.

"I personally have seen the trials and so have a lot of other people, and we know it is the best thing anyone has ever seen."

Mr Merrie said this week that he was confident the deal would be finalised "within 24 hours".

He said yesterday that it was "all but done", and planned to be back in New Zealand on Monday.

Mr Okun did not return messages left at several of his contact phone numbers. A message on his mobile phone said it was temporarily out of service.

Aucklander Russell Kerr, who is listed in Companies Office records as the sole shareholder of the joint venture, also did not return calls.

Last month, an American company contacted by the Business Herald warned anyone dealing with Mr Okun to be "real careful".

AmeriNet spokesman Charles Scimeca described Mr Okun as "a very smooth talker" who claimed to have a big telephone contract in New Zealand.

AmeriNet decided not to buy Mr Okun's company after he was unable to provide evidence of his assets.

"We would have sued him, but there's nothing to sue," said Mr Scimeca.