HARLEQUIN RAN ‘SYSTEMATIC FRAUD’ – CLAIMS THEIR ACCOUNTANT
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| (Picture: David Ames) – |
A company run by a former bankrupt British double glazing salesman responsible for selling off plan developments on Thailand’s eastern seaboard is finally going to be grilled in the High Court in London over its activities.
The boss of Harlequin, Essex businessman David Ames, who promoted several projects in Pattaya including Forest View, Phoenix Gardens, Compton Gardens 1 and 2 and Emerald Palace , through the Pattaya People newspaper, is at the moment in court bringing a libel case against Jeremy Newman, an accountant for Wilkins Kennedy – who handled Harlequin’s accounts.
Newman is being sued for setting up the website ‘Harlecon.net’ which ran to 1,300 pages cataloguing alleged misdeeds by the company.
The site was ‘wild and defamatory’ claimssolicitors Carter Ruck, one of Britain’s foremost libel legal firms.
But, claimed Ian Helme defending, the company needed 400 million to complete its projects, but had only £54.6 million in the kitty.
“It cannot construct the resorts but continues to promote them’.
Harlequin it’s claimed had built only 300 of a promised 6000 holiday and retirement homes, and hotel suites in the Caribbean.
“It is almost entirely dependent on investors’ deposits for income. It spends a huge amount of money on advertising and marketing using well-known figures and brands”.
Those figures include golfer Gary Player and tennis ace Pat Cash.
Below is the report from Jon Austin of the Basildon Echo in Britain. John has been following this story closely – Harlequin are based on his patch. This story has hardly been touched by the British national press.
The Guardian wrote a story then wrote an apology after getting a severe letter from Carter-Ruck.
The Thai side of the story of course starts with Harlequin (Thailand) run by Richard Haughton, former President of the Pattaya-Jomtien Rotary Club.
You can see him in the video (scroll down) with David Ames and Niels Colov of the Pattaya People.
This report also details the Harlequin projects which were taken over by Haughton’s T.P.M.E – Thai Media and Property Exhibition Company Ltd.
“It cannot construct the resorts?” – Currently there are scores of projects being promoted in Pattaya but a considerably less number actually being built.
One company is promoting 15 projects and has only started five. Be careful out there!
Is 2013 the year the chickens come home to roost? Lets hope so. If nothing else Andrew, your website has informed and warned readers about the Charlatans and con-men who do not just frequent Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, but are a plague ALL OVER Thailand. Sadly, more victims will fall for their schemes in 2013, but hopefully your continued reporting, will help keep some from their clutches. A Happy New Year to you and yours when it comes. I'll have a wee Glenmorangie, and toast your health on Hogmanay