‘The Phantom’ fraudster declined parole again

A convicted fraudster who duped notable New Zealanders out of millions of dollars has been declined parole for a second time.

In a reserved decision released last week, the Parole Board said it concluded Australian/Greek citizen Loizos Michaels, who is serving eight years in prison on 30 counts of fraud or deception, was still a risk to the community.

Michaels – who referred to himself as ‘‘The Phantom’’ – was jailed in 2012 for fraud that saw his victims handing over more than $3.2 million. He had earlier appeared in Australian courts several times on dishonesty charges.

He duped notable New Zealanders, including All Black great Jonah Lomu.

Lomu was tricked into months of publicity work after Michaels presented him with a business proposal to become ‘‘the global face of kickboxing’’.

Michaels is subject to a removal order and will be deported to Australia when he is released from prison, whether on his sentence end date, or on parole.

The board said Michaels had certain personality and character qualities which he needed to recognise and manage his own risk.

‘‘Despite what he says, Mr Michaels does not truly understand his risk factors, and does not have a sufficiently robust safety and release plan,’’ the board said.

‘‘He does not see his risks and further work is needed to enable him to appreciate what they are.’’

The sentence end date for Michaels is February 2019.

He will be seen again by the Parole Board in March 2018.

Climbers’ bodies recovered

The bodies of two New Zealand climbers have been recovered from the Darren Mountains in Fiordland. The Southland police search and rescue team recovered the bodies of two climbers from an area below Marian Peak. Sergeant Tod Hollebon, of Te Anau, said the two climbers were reported missing Monday afternoon. The climbers had been overdue for 24 hours. ’’A search by helicopter yesterday evening located the climbers at the base of a climbing face where they had clearly suffered a fall,’’ he said. The two climbers left Homer Huts, near the Milford Rd, on Saturday. Their intended route was Barrier Knob to Barrier Peak, a descent into Marian Valley and to ascend Marian Peak.

Rare falcon shot

The Department of Conservation is outraged after a rare falcon was found shot dead in Nikau Valley, Paraparaumu. The protected New Zealand falcon/ka¯rearea was found in a private property in Eucalyptus Way last Thursday. DOC is investigating the killing and said the culprit faced a punishment of up two years’ jail or a $100,000 fine. ’’Shooting the falcon is unacceptable, no matter what the circumstances,’’ biodiversity ranger David Moss said. ’’It was a direct hit from a low calibre weapon, such as a .22, and appears to be intentional. For someone to shoot this bird is appalling. Not only is the ka¯rearea a threatened species, it is a symbol of New Zealand and graces our $20 note.’’

Orion search successful

A New Zealand Defence Force Orion has found a man waving his paddles from a liferaft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The aircraft was sent to Tonga to help local authorities search for the man on Monday, after he disappeared while fishing off the main island of Tongatapu days earlier. His 4.8-metre fibreglass boat’s engine had failed and he managed to ring his family before he dropped off the map. The Rescue Co-ordination Centre of NZ said the Orion crew spotted the man yesterday in the middle of a 4000-square kilometre search area. Mission co-ordinator Conrad Reynecke said Tongan police would send a police or navy boat to retrieve him from the location, about 13 kilometres southeast of Eua Island. The Orion was to circle overhead for a couple of hours until he was rescued.

Person dies in crash

A crash involving a car and a motorbike in Kerikeri in Northland has left one person dead. The incident occurred around 3.30pm on Kapiro Rd, north of the town. The police serious crash unit is investigating the crash.

Body found in bush

A hunter stumbled upon a body in the bush near Thames yesterday afternoon. The body is yet to be formally identified and will remain in the bush at Te Puru Forks, off the Thames Coast Rd, overnight. A scene guard will be stationed at the site.