Alleged conman Loizos Michaels is accusing the Serious Fraud Office of conspiring to build a case against him.
The Greek-Australian restaurateur is on trial in the Auckland District Court for a raft of charges relating to losses of more than $3 million.
Michaels, 45, is claiming the SFO has coached witnesses to tell the same story of deception they have alleged against him in 31 charges.
The Crown has called more than 50 witnesses. Many have told of Michaels boasting of his family connections to the Cyprus based Louis Cruise line and close links with an Asian casino operator.
“You can make everything fit into that square hole. That’s what you’re doing and it’s not true,” Michaels told the Auckland High Court.
“One common denominator…SFO. I’ll leave it at that.”
Michaels is the only witness giving evidence in his defence.
His image in the community was one associated with criminals. Members of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang were frequent patrons of the Auckland-based restaurant run by Michaels.
Michaels said he didn’t know who the gang members were at first, but they shared things in common “like our children and so forth”.
“Everybody was welcome at Platos,” he told the court. “I wasn’t there to judge them.”
Under questioning from defence lawyer Peter Kaye, Michaels has repeatedly denied telling several people he had links to a range of criminal networks, including the Japanese Yakuza and Cypriot mafia.
Michaels also spoke of falling behind on lease payments for his struggling Greek restaurant, which were often paid in cash and funded with his own money or by his family in Melbourne.
“It was a struggle, and all the adverse media didn’t make it any better.”
He said the Serious Fraud Office had told him not to speak to anyone, and had turned family, friends and suppliers against him.
Court proceedings continue.
Source: One News and TVNZ