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| HAGERMAN: The former CEO of Taunovo Hotel (left) was named by Paul Kofi Freeman, as the US investor alleged to have lost $US250,000 to Renee Lal. (picture 2008 Fiji Times). |
The Ghanian businessman, Paul Kofi Freeman, insists he has never met Frank Bainimarama even though it's alleged Renee Lal tried to squeeze $30,000 out of him for Christmas presents for the illegal leader.
Freeman says Lal had suggested he meet Bainimarama because it would help his plans to establish an HQ in Suva for an oil exploration company. But he claims the meeting never happened.
In our last story, Freeman described himself as a business consultant (we say he is more a fixer and agent) who'd come to Fiji confident of finding oil after talking to geologists from Japan and the United Kingdom. He says he had a history of similar work in Africa and elsewhere.
The 33 year old says Lal and Padarath were helping him establish his HQ in the Dolphin Plaza on Victoria Parade in Suva but they had a fallout and he was left high and dry.
He claims he paid Lal and Padarath about $75,000 to get him set up, and that $10,000 was a retainer for Lal but they didn't deliver on the work. Media stories also cited a $150,000 exploration fee but this wasn't confirmed by Freeman.
He did allege to us, though, that he was told by Lal he'd need more money to give to Bainimarama and the regime and that a request for $30,000 came while he was in Japan. He claims he told her he didn't have that sort of money and it wasn't "how we do business."
He says that's when Lal and Padarath reported falsely to immigration officials he was an HIV carrier. "When I texted her 'No' from Japan that led to a big argument that caused my arrest. When I came back, I was arrested and made to give a HIV test. I tested negative."
He says he was made to test twice for HIV, once in November and again in January.
In investigating this story, Coupfourpointfive has established that there are several camps behind the scenes. There's the Renee Lal supporters, the Freeman supporters and a camp for Dilip Jamnadas, Lal's former business partner at the law firm, Jamnadas Associates.
Jamnadas was not part of the original story but he was brought into it later by those critical of the 'shabby' way he allegedly treated Renee Lal, who her supporters say has done a lot for the practice. It was also revealed to us that the FICAC spokesperson, Erica Lee, (remember the FICAC is supposed to be investigating this fraud) is the fiance of Dilip Jamandas' son, Karl.
Suffice to say supporters and detractors of those mentioned (with or without their knowledge or permission) have, in one way or another, been feeding information to Coupfourpointfive as well as posting inside information via comments.
Freeman told us he hardly knew Jamnadas but people have been quick to report that he is seen with Jamnadas almost every day and that on the day Lal was taken into custody, the Ghanian and Lal's former business partner were seen congratulating each other.
Note, though, that just Ben Padarath has been charged with anything - providing false information to a public servant, ie telling immigration officials Freeman had HIV. As far as we know, Renee Lal and Paul Kofi Freeman have not been charged, with FICAC still investigating.
We asked Freeman how he felt about Lal and Padarath being asaulted by military because of his complaint to FICAC. His answer was: "We are all Christians. Nobody wants to see another fellow being beaten but whatever those two do will be repeated against them."
Many people continue to be suspicious of the Ghanian, saying his business venture is being funded illegally. Freeman insists his money, like him, is legit although we have been unable to independently verify this. "My money comes from the bank so it means it's not laundry money. I have investors in Japan, the US and China and South Africa."
He says he has a lot of interested investors, people who believe there's oil in Fiji and who'd be happy to be part of any venture to find and extract that oil. People like Dr Macharia Irungu, one of those listed as a shareholder in Freeman's company South Pacific Natural Resources, who he says he knew from Africa where he was working as an oil consultant.
Irungu remains a mystery but apparently visited Suva last year in May, leading a delegation that met interim government officials working in the area of minerals and resources.
Freeman named a more well-known figure - Mitch Hagerman - as the overseas investor alleged to have lost money to Renee Lal. Hagerman is the former founder of the collapsed luxury Taunovo Bay Hotel on the Coral Coast.
Coupfourpointfive has tried to make contact with Hagerman but has been unsuccessful in securing an interview.
But Freeman says Hagerman deposited $US250,000 into a holding account for Lal and that it was for the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) payments and the salary of the workers but no documents/receipt have been received by Hagerman's investment company to confirm the payment.
Freeman says he knows this because he's met with Hagerman four times to discuss the purchase of the Taunovo hotel.
He says Lal's sister, a property lawyer, helped make the arrangements for him to meet Hagerman in the US.
Freeman has also been accused of marrying a local woman, Francess Raiwalui, just to stay in the country. He says there was gossip about his marriage after he revealed he had two children, twin girls in France. He says he gave the information to Renee Lal when he was asked if he had property outside of Fiji and he told her he had a house in France, where his children were living. He says from there, came the story he was already married.
See Freeman's marriage certificate
Editor's Note: Fiji media reported last week that Ben Padarath has asked the courts to allow him to travel overseas on medical grounds. His lawyer, Rajendra Chaudhry, says medical reports show his client sustained brain injuries as a result of being assaulted by military soldiers. A decision is expected this week.
