Fashion designer convicted of Oscar ticket-fraud hiding in Malaysia

BIRMINGHAM: A Malaysian fashion designer is believed to have gone into hiding after being convicted in Britain’s Birmingham Crown Court for duping starstruck investors into buying fake tickets to the Oscars to meet Alist stars.

According to BBC, Judge Richard Bond ruled that Alvin Loy, 50, formerly of Townsend Way, Birmingham, “decided to commit fraud in order to gain huge sums” to feed his gambling addiction.

Loy was accused of offering non-existent trips to Los Angeles, the United States, and the chance to meet the likes of A-list celebrity Julia Roberts.

The court heard that Loy had cheated three victims out of £263,599 (RM1.5 million).

However, Loy was said to have denied fraud charges and skipped bail before the trial, where he was subsequently found guilty and jailed for six years.

Loy was said to had convinced his victims to invest money in his haute couture business, but he frittered the cash away in casinos, restaurants and on holidays.

He denied four counts of fraud and one charge of obtaining a Northern Rock mortgage by deception, which gave him another £131,138.

An international arrest warrant is out for Loy, who is believed to be hiding in Malaysia.

Bond, who convicted him on all counts after a seven-day trial told jurors that Loy was believed to be in Malaysia.

During sentencing, Bond said: “The truth is Alvin Loy was a sophisticated and clever fraudster, who deployed the main weapon of a fraudster’s armoury — relying on the decency of his victims while he fed them lie after lie.”

Loy pretended to mix with elite celebrities, and on one occasion, feigned a phone call to fashion designer John Galliano, and on another falsely claimed to be in a relationship with another fashion designer Tom Ford.

Bond said Loy had a “dark and secret side” and had lied about working for fashion house Christian Dior and knowing Princess Anne.

Loy also convinced one of his victims, a doctor, to pay £12,000 for fake tickets to the Oscars’ in 2009, the court heard. He then claimed the trip was cancelled before presenting the same offer to another victim, who paid £5,000.

The truth is Alvin Loy was a sophisticated and clever fraudster, who deployed the main weapon of a fraudster’s armoury — relying on the decency of his victims while he fed them lie after lie. RICHARD BOND Crown court judge