Pacific manhunt for 'Cheriegate' scandal adviser

Published on Sunday 14 January 2007 00:06

A PACIFIC-WIDE alert has been issued for conman Peter Foster, the man behind the infamous "Cheriegate" scandal, who was last seen wading ashore near the Vanuatu capital, Port Villa.

The Fijian authorities are seeking Foster in relation to allegations of forgery and obtaining a work permit through fraudulent means.

He is being sought by four different nations in relation to a number of alleged offences.

Foster, 44, was arrested in Fiji last October amid dramatic scenes. He tried to escape police clad only in his underpants, and was knocked unconscious by the propeller of a police search boat after jumping from a bridge into a river.

Foster was subsequently held by the Fijian authorities under 24-hour guard over fraud charges relating to false accusations against New Zealand property developer Evan Williams, over a land purchase deal at Champagne Beach on the Yasawa islands, Fiji.

It is understood that the Federated States of Micronesia is also seeking Foster on allegations he defrauded the government of the small nation out of $580,000 (297,000)

Foster has previously served prison sentences in Britain, Australia and the United States on fraud charges relating to his sales of dubious slimming aids.

Foster has been embroiled in a recent political scandal in Fiji, having struck up a relationship with the leader of Fiji's military coup, Commodore Frank Bainimarama while under house arrest. It is reported that Foster took part in a military-led sting operation on Fijian politicians by recording conversations where they admitted vote rigging in the general election last May.

Foster was at the centre of the scandal surrounding Cherie Blair's purchase of two flats in Bristol, in 2002, and she was forced to make a public apology over her denials of Foster's involvement. He was the then boyfriend of the Blairs' lifestyle guru, Carole Caplin, and acted as Mrs Blair's financial adviser in the purchase of the flats.