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Turkey holiday homes fraudster Kevin O'Kane is jailed | Turkey holiday homes fraudster Kevin O'Kane is jailed |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A County Antrim businessman has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for operating an international property scam in Turkey. | A County Antrim businessman has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for operating an international property scam in Turkey. |
Kevin O'Kane, 52, from Ballynease Road in Portglenone, was found guilty of 151 charges connected to the fraud. | Kevin O'Kane, 52, from Ballynease Road in Portglenone, was found guilty of 151 charges connected to the fraud. |
The court had heard the property scam involved a total of 59 investors who were duped into paying almost £4m for holiday homes which O'Kane did not own. | The court had heard the property scam involved a total of 59 investors who were duped into paying almost £4m for holiday homes which O'Kane did not own. |
O'Kane had claimed he, himself, had been duped by a Turkish partner. | O'Kane had claimed he, himself, had been duped by a Turkish partner. |
However, sentencing him to four-and-a-half years, Mr Justice McLaughlin said his claims were "preposterous" and he "had stretched his credibility to breaking point". | However, sentencing him to four-and-a-half years, Mr Justice McLaughlin said his claims were "preposterous" and he "had stretched his credibility to breaking point". |
It was revealed in court that one of O'Kane's victims, who handed over £75,000, has been left with a monthly bank bill of £600 for the next 17 years. | It was revealed in court that one of O'Kane's victims, who handed over £75,000, has been left with a monthly bank bill of £600 for the next 17 years. |
His three-month trial at Belfast Crown Court, heard the charges arose after O'Kane portrayed himself as the landowner, builder and developer of the Golden Beach villas development. | His three-month trial at Belfast Crown Court, heard the charges arose after O'Kane portrayed himself as the landowner, builder and developer of the Golden Beach villas development. |
However, as one victim put it, he "didn't even own a blade of grass". | However, as one victim put it, he "didn't even own a blade of grass". |
O'Kane, originally an oil and coal merchant from the Bellaghy area, and his Turkish business partner spotted the villas for sale at a knockdown £45,000. | O'Kane, originally an oil and coal merchant from the Bellaghy area, and his Turkish business partner spotted the villas for sale at a knockdown £45,000. |
They thought they could buy them up and then sell them onto unsuspecting investors at a profit of £30,000 per villa. | They thought they could buy them up and then sell them onto unsuspecting investors at a profit of £30,000 per villa. |
The scam went wrong however, when they did not buy any of the properties with the money they had been given. | The scam went wrong however, when they did not buy any of the properties with the money they had been given. |
Welcoming the sentence, PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Kim McCauley said: "The sentence reflects the magnitude of the loss suffered by so many innocent people who were taken in by O'Kane. | Welcoming the sentence, PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Kim McCauley said: "The sentence reflects the magnitude of the loss suffered by so many innocent people who were taken in by O'Kane. |
"It also emphasises the seriousness of fraud offences and reinforces the message that they are not victimless crimes. | "It also emphasises the seriousness of fraud offences and reinforces the message that they are not victimless crimes. |
"O'Kane's actions have resulted in considerable hardship to a lot of families in a particularly difficult financial climate." | "O'Kane's actions have resulted in considerable hardship to a lot of families in a particularly difficult financial climate." |
One victim, who lost £75,000, gave his reaction to the verdict against O'Kane. | |
"The major impact is I think something the judge said, which is the betrayal of trust," he added. | |
"The methods he (O'Kane) used to get into my trust. | |
"My wife's father died, an innocent victim of the Troubles. | |
"He referred to it by saying that he knew him well and he used to go to the GAA matches with him, which was total rubbish." |