Didim Today

A County Londonderry businessman at the centre of an alleged £2.5m overseas property scam could face charges in NI for suspected contempt of court. Lawyers for the investors suing Kevin O'Kane, 50, said they would bring proceedings over claims he has breached an order freezing his assets. Details emerged at the Northern Ireland High Court in Monday, where Mr O'Kane is defending a lawsuit. The case was taken by 80 people who claim they were cheated by Mr O'Kane. The alleged scam involves more than £2.5m in bogus property deals at the Golden Beach holiday resort on the Aegean coastline.

BBC - A County Londonderry businessman at the centre of an alleged £2.5m overseas property scam could face charges in NI for suspected contempt of court. Lawyers for the investors suing Kevin O'Kane, 50, said they would bring proceedings over claims he has breached an order freezing his assets.

Details emerged at the Northern Ireland High Court in Monday, where Mr O'Kane is defending a lawsuit. The case was taken by 80 people who claim they were cheated by Mr O'Kane. The alleged scam involves more than £2.5m in bogus property deals at the Golden Beach holiday resort on the Aegean coastline. Mr O'Kane, from Bellaghy, has denied any wrongdoing and claims to have been the victim of a rogue property dealer.

His business dealings have been restricted by an injunction which stops him doing anything with his assets while the civil action is under way. A lawyer for some of the plaintiffs claimed "considerably more" than the £400-a-week he is allowed to take from accounts had been withdrawn.

It was disclosed that an application to have him committed for contempt would be lodged within the next two weeks. Once papers are lodged the judge in the case, Mr Justice Deeny, must decide whether Mr O'Kane has flouted the terms of the order. If it is decided that the businessman has, he could be fined or even imprisoned.

A further application is also to be brought to put in place further protections on the assets in the case. After being informed of the developments, Mr Justice Deeny confirmed: "The plaintiffs are entitled, on foot of this concern that has been raised with them, to make such applications as they see fit." He told Mr O'Kane's barrister that matters may be explained when an accountant had a chance to examine issues surrounding the investors' concerns. 26/09/09