Gem dealer Angela Chu defends reputation at opal shows, amid family’s legal bid to ‘disentangle’ her from their father

A mystery spanning the red dirt of Coober Pedy to a suburban Melbourne magistrates’ court continues.

The family of an ageing opal miner are seeking intervention in the courts. International gem dealer Angela Chu.

An international opal dealer has defended her reputation in the Australian cash-based industry despite being banned from at least one gem show and as her future attendance at another remains under a cloud.

It comes after the family of an elderly Greek man from Coober Pedy, South Australia launched a legal bid to disentangle the gem dealer, Angela Chu, from their father’s life after they say she sold his opals without giving him the money, allegedly spent $39,000 on a debit card linked to his business account and was collecting Centrelink benefits as his carer.

The family of an ageing opal miner are seeking intervention in the courts. International gem dealer Angela Chu with Ieroklis (Eric) Mavropoulos.

Ms Chu is a “sales Representative at Opal Empire Ltd” according to her LinkedIn profile, which also reported she has “been dealing (in the) opal industry over 20 years.”

“I did a lot of international gem shows in the past in USA, HK and Europe. I am also an Opal cutter and evaluator too,” the profile read.

Those in the opal industry who’ve encountered Ms Chu agree she has been on the scene for years, but one source said there’s something off about the stones she sells.

“There’s bits and pieces from everywhere. You can’t tell where they have come from,” they said.

And despite her experience in the trade, she has been banned from the Australian Opal Exhibition on the Gold Coast.

Australian Opal Exhibition co-ordinator Maxine O’Brien said that about four years ago Ms Chu had been told not to attend.

International gem dealer Angela Chu’s LinkedIn profile.

“I did have a number of complaints from a number of exhibitors over the years,” she told The Weekend Australian.

“As a result, we did advise her that if she came back the following year she would not be permitted.”

In outback NSW at the Lightning Ridge Opal and Gem Festival, she is facing future sanctions after failing to pay a $400 fee for a stall at this year’s show in July.

“It’s a four-day event. You have to commit for the four days. She had constant stories as to why she couldn’t get there,” event manager Sally Weeks says. “Her continued attendance will be subject to committee approval.”

Ms Chu says she was late to the Lightning Ridge show and she attempted to pay the fee.

“I was sick right at the beginning. They didn’t remind me so they said don’t worry about it, if you didn’t sell enough because you were two days late. I wanted to pay and I asked them for the account number,” she said.

“Because we don’t have a bank in Coober Pedy anymore. My internet banking has been down so I tried to transfer the money and then the money kept on coming back to my bank account.”

“Then the organiser said, you are not allowed to sell if you are not an exhibitor. I said fair enough and I put away my goods,” she said.

Responding to claims of complaints made against her at the Australian Opal Exhibition, she says: “I went there for buying. When I was buying, some people say after I buy I don’t have enough cash. They said show me what you have got, maybe we can barter.”

She is allowed to enter the Coober Pedy Gem Trade Show, but under the watch of security guards, The Australian has been told.

The Weekend Australian revealed 86-year-old opal miner Ieroklis “Eric” Mavropoulos’s family launched an intervention order application against Ms Chu, claiming she took advantage of him.

An interim intervention order was issued against Ms Chu, which she said is “unfair” and she denies all the allegations against her.

The Australian is not suggesting that because the interim order has been made the ­allegations reported by Mr Mavropoulos’ family are true, just what has happened here is still to be ­decided in court.