Nikolaos Haidaris fronts court over $1.1m investor fraud
A disgraced Melbourne real estate agent punted money he stole from an investor on poker tournaments across the country as his life fell apart.
South East
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A disgraced Melbourne real estate agent who took part in poker tournaments across Australia after fleecing an investor out of $1.1m to fund his gambling addiction has been jailed.
Nikolaos Haidaris, formerly of Bentleigh East who now lives in northern NSW, fronted the County Court on Thursday where he was sentenced to three years and three months in jail on charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and obtaining property by deception.
As a director of Haven The Agency, the 52-year-old auctioned a luxury home in Lalor with the proceeds going to the Nick Kyrgios’ NK Foundation to help underprivileged kids.
Haidaris’ victim Andreas Koulouris turned around and looked at the fraudster as Judge Peter Lauritsen handed down the sentencing.
Haidaris tricked his victim Andreas Koulouris, who was looking for an investment opportunity in 2017, into lending him $1.1m in loans to be repaid with interest. Haidaris said he borrowed funds from investors to help developers obtain finance from other lenders.
He repaid only $164,500, leading to him losing his real estate licence and he was also declared bankrupt.
Judge Lauritsen said Haidaris began regularly gambling at TAB and online from 2015 that ultimately resulted in him being evicted from an apartment for non-payment of rent.
Haidaris racked up gambling debts which he started he tried to clear by fraudulently obtaining money from the likes of Mr Koulouris, he said.
“The impact of your offending on Mr Koulouris has been profound, and he’s now trying to resurrect his damaged life,” Judge Peter Lauritsen said.
He said Haidaris’ offending constituted a gross breach of trust as Mr Koulouris trusted a real estate agent with his hard-earned money.
Mr Koulouris sat directly across from Haidaris while reading his victim impact statement in court last month.
“Your actions Nikolaos, rooted in selfishness, deception and greed, have devastated my life in ways you cannot likely even fathom,’’ Mr Koulouris said.
“You have destroyed relationships that were once central to my life. My wife has left me, thank you very much, and I see my kids only twice a week.
“I don’t hate you Nikolaos. I pity you. You are nothing and one thing remains. You still owe me the money,” he said.
Haidaris will be eligible for parole after serving two years and two months.
