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Interpol opens investigation into Serepisos' proposed financier


Interpol gets onto the trail of Western Gulf Advisory, following the National Business Review's investigation.

Matt Nippert
Fri, 21 Oct 2011

Bankrupt developer Terry Serepisos’ proposed financier – who he is understood to have paid $US1.6 million in loan fees to – is under investigation by Interpol.

Indian newspaper the Deccan Chronicle reported an officer of the international crime-fighting agency has interviewed several family members and victims of Ahsan Ali Syed.

The newspaper reported: “An Interpol officer visited Hyderabad recently and spoke to Mr Ali’s close associates about his family and financial background.

“The Hyderabad city police confirmed that the Interpol has launched an inquiry into Mr Ahsan Ali’s assets and cases registered against him, if any, in the city.

“Interpol started the inquiry following complaints of alleged financial cheating and breach of promise in various deals that Mr Ahsan Ali had entered into in Spain and New Zealand through his firm Western Gulf Advisory."

Mr Ali and his Western Gulf Advisory are also the subject of the compliant made to New Zealand’s Serious Fraud Office.

Gary McNabb, of NZMint fame, says he paid $US750,000 to Mr Ali and WGA for a $US50 million loan that never arrived and his fees were not refunded.

The National Business Review broke the news exposing serious concerns over WGA’s activities in February.

Mr Serepisos was made bankrupt last month, after a long-running rearguard action where he promised creditors in the courts WGA would deliver a $US100 million bailout loan.

Mr Serepisos also announced on the front page of the Dominion Post his football team the Wellington Phoenix would be sponsored by WGA.

The Wellington Phoenix changed hands, just days before Mr Serepisos was made bankrupt, to a consortium of Wellington businessmen headed by Kiwibank chairman Rob Morrison.

Matt Nippert
Fri, 21 Oct 2011
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Interpol opens investigation into Serepisos' proposed financier
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