Latest news with #Greek-Cypriot
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Fugitive ponzi scheme boss assumed dead may be alive, London police say
Anthony Constantinou stole at least £70 million (S$122 million) from investors he lured with the promise of risk free returns. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASH LONDON – The fugitive boss of a bogus London FX firm convicted as the mastermind behind a Ponzi-style investment scheme was thought to have died in Mexico while on the run, but London police are not so sure. Anthony Constantinou stole at least £70 million (S$122 million) from investors he lured with the promise of risk free returns, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison in his absence. News outlets including UK tabloid The Sun and Miami-based website OffshoreAlert reported that Constantinou died of a heart attack in July 2024 while in Guadalajara, Mexico. A death certificate has been filed in Mexico and seen by the City of London Police, but investigators remain unconvinced that Constantinou has actually died, according to lawyers at a court hearing on June 5. They have evidence of Constantinou's cremation within 24 hours of his death, but some of the documents reviewed contain inaccuracies, including that Constantinou's mother was Mexican. He is known to be of Greek-Cypriot heritage. 'There remains an active search for his whereabouts,' prosecution lawyer David Durose said in court. 'If there were more legitimate grounds to believe that the defendant may have died the Crown would be looking more carefully at it.' Constantinou had no legal representation at the hearing. The police want to recover some of the investor cash that was lost in the scheme and asked the judge to make an order that would help them seize assets. So far recoveries have been minimal, despite Constantinou enjoying a lavish lifestyle, with money being traced through a number of offshore jurisdictions. Constantinou was sentenced in his absence after he disappeared weeks into his trial in 2023. A warrant for his arrest was issued shortly after. Weeks after he disappeared, he was arrested in Bulgaria for carrying fake identification documents, but for unknown reasons, he was let go. His firm, CWM, lured in victims with false promises of generous returns on risk-free foreign exchange market transactions and lavish perks. Operating out of an office in the City of London's Heron Tower, he enticed investors from late 2013 by boasting of generous returns on allegedly risk-free foreign exchange market transactions, for a minimum investment of £100,000. Client funds were also used to boost Constantinou's lifestyle including his £2.5 million wedding in Santorini, the court heard. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Peter Andre reveals 'challenge' of working on controversial film Jafaican
Peter Andre has spoken about one of the 'challenges' filming controversial film Jafaican. The film has received heavy criticism since the trailer dropped last month, as singer-turned-actor Andre — who was born in England, raised in Australia and is of Greek-Cypriot descent — was shown playing a Jamaican gangster wearing fake dreadlocks and speaking with a dodgy Jamaican accent. But now, Andre, 52, has opened up more about working on the project, which was recently released in cinemas. 'I think that with the Jamaican side of it, the Patois parts were dubbed over by a Jamaican actor but instead of me miming over the Patois, I had to learn all the [words] that were delivered on screen,' he told the Daily Star. 'They dubbed over me, so that was a real challenge but it was one that I absolutely loved doing.' In the film, Andre plays two characters - as he is also Denton 'Kill Man' Powell. 'Playing Denton I found really a great challenge, I absolutely loved that character,' he added. 'I loved the seriousness of him, the tone changes and it was a brilliant part to play.' Recently, Jafaican's director Fredi Nwaka addressed some of the backlash, in a filmed Q&A shown after some screenings of the film. Asked about the criticism of the trailer, including accusations of cultural appropriation, Nwaka said: 'Do you know what, we live in a world that is so serious right now. 'People are getting sick and dying. This is really serious and I feel like I just want people to leave with laughter, leave with love and this feeling they had back in the day that you could live, laugh and almost take the p*ss out of yourself. 'It's a comedy. Comedies are supposed to make you smile, they are supposed to make you laugh, they're supposed to make you feel good and when you go home, it's a bit of relief from everyday stuff.' Suggesting he viewed the project as a love letter to Jamaica — where part of the film was shot — Nwaka, 53, added: 'Also, another thing is, go to Jamaica. It's an amazing country, man. If you haven't been, go to Jamaica — you'll love it.' Jafaican had its official debut at the Gold Coast Film Festival in Queensland, Australia earlier this month. In an interview with Channel 7 ahead of it, Andre - who deleted his original social media post featuring the trailer following the furore - was asked: 'The trailer did see some headlines about an English-born Australian-raised actor playing a Jamaican character, you know about that. Are you surprised there's been some mixed feedback here or were you anticipating that?' Andre replied: 'Well, to be fair, I mean, I think it's good to get all sorts of feedback. I mean, this is not … it's my first lead role but I've done quite a few roles before. And all of them, I've played different characters.' The Mysterious Girl hit-maker continued: 'So for me, it's acting – I get to do something light-hearted, something funny. Something that y'know is the kind of film I'd wanna watch. So it's almost like a little bit self-indulgent in the sense that I get to do something that I've really, really wanted to do.'
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Peter Andre's son Junior is his double as they celebrate at his new movie premiere with star-studded guest list
PETER Andre's eldest son Junior could have been mistaken for his dad as he walked the red carpet of the singer's new movie premiere. 5 Junior Andre looked the double of his dad Peter at the Jafaican movie screening Credit: Splash 5 Peter was also supported by his daughter Princess in London Credit: Splash 5 Peter takes on a leading role in the new crime-comedy Credit: Splash Wearing a stonewash denim jacket, white T-shirt and matching jeans, Junior was all smiles as he posed for photographers at the VIP event. With his jet black hair brushed forwards and an unshaved face, he looked like Peter's double on the red carpet. The pair's resemblance was clear to see as they stood side-by-side at Genesis Cinema in London. Junior, whose mother is Peter's ex wife READ MORE ON PETER ANDRE Peter was also joined by his eldest daughter Princess, 17, who was also on hand to show her support. Princess oozed glamour in a sophisticated black jumpsuit with a grey leather jacket slouched over her shoulders and matching thigh-high boots. In the crime-comedy, which is directed by Fredi Nwaka and is out now in ODEON cinemas, Peter has taken on the role of Gary Buckle. Gary is a London crook who is risking his life to pull off a heist to cover his nan's care . Most read in Celebrity This week, Gazza, who must master a Caribbean accent and culture to impersonate a notorious Jamaican gangster for a £3million payout. Chatting in an interview from his Surrey home, he said: 'When I read the script , I spent the whole time laughing. Peter Andre opens up on bullying and racism he's suffered after being forced to delete his 'racist' Jamaican gangster movie trailer It was warm, with a deep, heartfelt message about what someone would do to care for the person that they love. It was also a beautiful tribute to Jamaica. 'But for me, working on Jafaican has been a dream come true." Although he is best known for his singing career, Peter explained how he had trained in acting as a child. 'I studied acting as a kid before going into music from 16, but I always knew I was going to come back to it," he admitted. "I always said to my dad, 'When I get to my 40s, I'm moving back into film, that's what I want to do'.' Jafaican has already been met with a heap of positive reviews and Peter is already making plans to star in the sequel. It comes after he spent two months filming the first instalment in Jamaica, his 'bucket list' location, using local crew and businesses to feed money back into the economy. Meanwhile, Peter has also spoken out about the bullying and racism he fell victim to as a Greek-Cypriot growing up in Australia. His comments came after controversy around cultural identity was sparked over his fake Jamaican accent and dreadlocks when the trailer dropped last month. "It gave me a deep understanding of what's truly offensive and what's not," Peter said. 'If someone dressed up with a curly wig and a big nose, doing a Greek accent, I'd probably laugh – it depends on the intention. "But if someone said 'I hate you Greeks' or made hateful comments about our skin, that's where the line is. That's racism.' 5 Peter with Princess and Junior at a premiere when they were little Credit: Alamy 5 The singer sat down with The Sun to talk about his new movie role Credit: Ian Whittaker
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Peter Andre opens up on bullying and racism he's suffered after being forced to delete ‘racist' Jamaican film trailer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HE dreamt of being a famous actor long before making pop hits - now Peter Andre has fulfilled his ambition of being on the silver screen as a lead star. It signals a new era for the Mysterious Girl singer who transforms into Gary Buckle, a London crook risking his life to pull off a heist to cover his nan's care, in Fredi Nwaka's crime-comedy Jafaican, out today in ODEON cinemas. 6 Peter Andre has opened up on the bullying and racism he's suffered over his acting debut in Jafaican Credit: Ian Whittaker 6 He transforms into Gary Buckle, a London crook risking his life to pull off a heist to cover his nan's care, in Fredi Nwaka's crime-comedy Credit: Radioactive Pictures Hours after landing back in the UK following an eight-day promotion tour in Australia, Peter sat down with The Sun to discuss playing conman Gazza, who must master a Caribbean accent and culture to impersonate a notorious Jamaican gangster for a £3million payout. 'When I read the script, I spent the whole time laughing,' says Peter, in an interview from his Surrey home. 'It was warm, with a deep, heartfelt message about what someone would do to care for the person that they love. It was also a beautiful tribute to Jamaica. 'But for me, working on Jafaican has been a dream come true. 'I know some people were a bit sceptical at first because we didn't know whether I could deliver what we had planned, but the reviews we've had have been phenomenal. 'I studied acting as a kid before going into music from 16, but I always knew I was going to come back to it. I always said to my dad, 'when I get to my 40s, I'm moving back into film, that's what I want to do'.' That's why it meant so much to Peter to have his beloved father attend the film's world premiere at the Gold Coast Film Festival on May 9, where critics hailed Jafaican as fast-paced and full of laughs, with an emotional undertone. Peter is already making plans to star in the sequel having spent two months filming in Jamaica, his 'bucket list' location, using local crew and businesses to feed money back into the economy. He also worked alongside some of the country's most-celebrated stars including musician Sizzla Kalonji and comedian Oliver Samuels. Fast-paced film Jafaican is full of laughs Despite rave reviews across the world, controversy around cultural identity was sparked over Peter's fake Jamaican accent and dreadlocks when the trailer dropped last month. The title of the film is named after the term that describes a white person adopting a Jamaican dialect. Peter Andre Relaxes at Champneys in Henlow He has today spoken openly about how his own experiences with racism as a child shaped the way he sees the world today. 'I remember the bullying and the racism we suffered as kids in Australia and how tough that was,' says Peter, who was born in London to Greek-Cypriot parents before emigrating Down Under aged six. 'But it gave me a deep understanding of what's truly offensive and what's not. 'If someone dressed up with a curly wig and a big nose, doing a Greek accent, I'd probably laugh – it depends on the intention. But if someone said 'I hate you Greeks' or made hateful comments about our skin, that's where the line is. That's racism.' I genuinely believe Jafaican is about storytelling and paying homage, not mockery. Peter Andre Peter - who was tied to a fence by blue-eyed, blonde-haired schoolkids throwing stones at his head because of his darker skin tone - added: 'In a way, things have become muddied. I genuinely believe Jafaican is about storytelling and paying homage, not mockery. 6 Peter sat down with The Sun to discuss playing conman Gazza Credit: Ian Whittaker 6 Peter is seen with director, Fredi Credit: Ian Whittaker 'I know some people can genuinely feel offended, and their voices matter, but sometimes people react without context or full understanding. 'We did our research, we worked with Jamaican talent, and we wanted to tell a story with heart.' His ability to separate art from personal attacks comes from his own experience of being ridiculed on-screen by actor Danny Dyer, whose character Moff in the 1999 film Human Traffic included an 'horrific' minute-long monologue about wanting to kill him. Danny Dyer hurt me, but he's a great actor Talking about Robert De Niro's 1976 psychological movie Taxi Driver in the back of a cab, Moff calls Peter an 'ugly f***' before describing how he'd brutally torture him before eventually shooting him between the eyes, adding: 'So long Pete, no one gives a f*** about you.' Peter tells us: 'At the time, I was hurt – I rang my lawyers. But over the years I came to understand: it's just acting. Danny was playing a role. I've met him many times since and I think he's a great guy.' He's grown a thick skin over a three-decade career and it's no surprise he's earned the reputation of being TV's Mr Nice Guy. Jafaican is warm, with a deep, heartfelt message about what someone would do to care for the person they love. Peter Andre Alongside juggling his soaring film career, Pete is still a hands-on dad bringing up Junior and Princess from his first marriage and his three youngest kids with his wife Emily MacDonagh, Theo, Amelia and Arabella. Moments before our interview, family-man Pete sweetly kisses 17-year-old Princess on her forehead as she offers to make lunch for guests he's welcomed into his beautiful five-bed home. 6 Junior and Princess Andre join dad Pete at the new Mission Impossible premiere Credit: Getty Soon, the youngest kids come home from school and lovingly run to see their dad, who got to spend time with his elderly parents while working in Australia over the last week. Family-man Pete wants to spend more time in Australia Family means everything to Pete who describes Jafaican's plot as a 'love story disguised under the heist'. The comedy's hidden meaning is what writer, producer and director Fredi says he's most proud of. 'It's a comedy, it's a feel-good film that's high octane, hilarious, but with a good meaning and a good takeaway at the end,' said Fredi, whose film will be seen in full for the first time at a pre-screening tonight in London. 'There's a lot of what I call bubblegum and popcorn films, where you go to the cinema, you laugh a lot, and then you just go home. Well, this one actually leaves you with a really strong message to take away from it.' Fredi joined Peter at the film premiere Down Under whose mum, who suffers from Alzheimer's, could sadly not attend because of ill health. 'It was a bittersweet night because mum couldn't come, but I got to take my dad – and the premiere was just around the corner from the house I grew up in. It meant the world to me,' admits Peter. Watch this space, says ambitious Peter Andre He is now working on a plan to spend more time out on the Gold Coast making more memories with his parents, who have been married 70 years this September. Fighting back tears, an emotional Peter said: 'If there's a way I could just go there for the next five years and be with them more often, I would do it in a heartbeat. All about Peter Andre Who is Peter Andre? Why did Peter and Katie Price split up? All about Peter's daughter with ex-wife Katie Price, Princess Who is Peter Andre's wife Emily? All the news about Peter Andre Who is Peter's son Junior? 'Everyone knows how much I love England, but mum and dad are there. I wish it was closer. 'One thing that mum said that's really stuck with me is I kept saying, 'but mum, I need you' and she said, 'like, you need me, your kids need you'. 'I don't want to be without her. It's tough even saying it. 'It's causing a lot of anxiety, but I've got to be here for my kids. I'm working on ways to be able to spend more time out in Australia with my Emily and the kids.' 6 Peter's parents Savvas and Thea Andrea Credit: Instagram Thanks to the backing of his family, Peter's screen acting career is just getting started. 'I've got a TV drama, a 10-part series, that I've filmed, which will be coming out later in the year", he adds. 'I'm not allowed to give the title away, but it's an international release on Paramount+. 'Also, I can't wait until we start on the Jafaican sequel. So, watch this space.' Watch Jafaican in ODEON cinemas now, starring Bradley Turner, Peter Andre, Alexander Garcia, Sizzla Kalonji, Jamie Lomas, Wil Johnson, Jessica-Jane Stafford.
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Peter Andre opens up on bullying and racism he's suffered after being forced to delete ‘racist' Jamaican film trailer
HE dreamt of being a famous actor long before making pop hits - now Peter Andre has fulfilled his ambition of being on the silver screen as a lead star. It signals a new era for the Mysterious Girl singer who transforms into Gary Buckle, a London crook risking his life to pull off a heist to cover his nan's care, in Fredi Nwaka's crime-comedy Jafaican, out today in ODEON cinemas. 6 Peter Andre has opened up on the bullying and racism he's suffered over his acting debut in Jafaican Credit: Ian Whittaker 6 He transforms into Gary Buckle, a London crook risking his life to pull off a heist to cover his nan's care, in Fredi Nwaka's crime-comedy Credit: Radioactive Pictures Hours after landing back in the UK following an eight-day promotion tour in Australia, Peter sat down with The Sun to discuss playing conman Gazza, who must master a Caribbean accent and culture to impersonate a notorious Jamaican gangster for a £3million payout. 'When I read the script , I spent the whole time laughing,' says Peter, in an interview from his Surrey home. 'It was warm, with a deep, heartfelt message about what someone would do to care for the person that they love. It was also a beautiful tribute to Jamaica. 'But for me, working on Jafaican has been a dream come true. READ MORE ON PETER ANDRE 'I know some people were a bit sceptical at first because we didn't know whether I could deliver what we had planned, but the reviews we've had have been phenomenal. 'I studied acting as a kid before going into music from 16, but I always knew I was going to come back to it. I always said to my dad, 'when I get to my 40s, I'm moving back into film , that's what I want to do'.' That's why it meant so much to Peter to have his beloved father attend the film's world premiere at the Gold Coast Film Festival on May 9, where critics hailed Jafaican as fast-paced and full of laughs, with an emotional undertone. Peter is already making plans to star in the sequel having spent two months filming in Jamaica, his 'bucket list' location, using local crew and businesses to feed money back into the economy. Most read in Celebrity He also worked alongside some of the country's most-celebrated stars including musician Sizzla Kalonji and comedian Oliver Samuels. Fast-paced film Jafaican is full of laughs Despite rave reviews across the world, controversy around cultural identity was sparked over Peter's fake Jamaican accent and dreadlocks when the trailer dropped last month. The title of the film is named after the term that describes a white person adopting a Jamaican dialect. Peter Andre Relaxes at Champneys in Henlow He has today spoken openly about how his own experiences with racism as a child shaped the way he sees the world today. 'I remember the bullying and the racism we suffered as kids in Australia and how tough that was,' says Peter, who was born in London to Greek-Cypriot parents before emigrating Down Under aged six. 'But it gave me a deep understanding of what's truly offensive and what's not. 'If someone dressed up with a curly wig and a big nose, doing a Greek accent, I'd probably laugh – it depends on the intention. But if someone said 'I hate you Greeks' or made hateful comments about our skin, that's where the line is. That's racism.' I genuinely believe Jafaican is about storytelling and paying homage, not mockery. Peter Andre Peter - who was tied to a fence by blue-eyed, blonde-haired schoolkids throwing stones at his head because of his darker skin tone - added: 'In a way, things have become muddied. I genuinely believe Jafaican is about storytelling and paying homage, not mockery. 6 Peter sat down with The Sun to discuss playing conman Gazza Credit: Ian Whittaker 6 Peter is seen with director, Fredi Credit: Ian Whittaker 'I know some people can genuinely feel offended, and their voices matter, but sometimes people react without context or full understanding. 'We did our research, we worked with Jamaican talent, and we wanted to tell a story with heart.' His ability to separate art from personal attacks comes from his own experience of being ridiculed on-screen by actor Danny Dyer, whose character Moff in the 1999 film Human Traffic included an 'horrific' minute-long monologue about wanting to kill him. Danny Dyer hurt me, but he's a great actor Talking about Robert De Niro's 1976 psychological movie Taxi Driver in the back of a cab, Moff calls Peter an 'ugly f***' before describing how he'd brutally torture him before eventually shooting him between the eyes, adding: 'So long Pete, no one gives a f*** about you.' Peter tells us: 'At the time, I was hurt – I rang my lawyers. But over the years I came to understand: it's just acting. Danny was playing a role. I've met him many times since and I think he's a great guy.' He's grown a thick skin over a three-decade career and it's no surprise he's earned the reputation of being TV's Mr Nice Guy. Jafaican is warm, with a deep, heartfelt message about what someone would do to care for the person they love. Peter Andre Alongside juggling his soaring film career, Pete is still a hands-on dad bringing up Junior and Princess from his first marriage and his three youngest kids with his wife Moments before our interview, family-man Pete sweetly kisses 17-year-old Princess on her forehead as she offers to make lunch for guests he's welcomed into his beautiful five-bed home. 6 Junior and Princess Andre join dad Pete at the new Mission Impossible premiere Credit: Getty Soon, the youngest kids come home from school and lovingly run to see their dad, who got to spend time with his elderly parents while working in Australia over the last week. Family-man Pete wants to spend more time in Australia Family means everything to Pete who describes Jafaican's plot as a 'love story disguised under the heist'. The comedy's hidden meaning is what writer, producer and director Fredi says he's most proud of. 'It's a comedy , it's a feel-good film that's high octane, hilarious, but with a good meaning and a good takeaway at the end,' said Fredi, whose film will be seen in full for the first time at a pre-screening tonight in London. 'There's a lot of what I call bubblegum and popcorn films, where you go to the cinema, you laugh a lot, and then you just go home. Well, this one actually leaves you with a really strong message to take away from it.' Fredi joined Peter at the film premiere Down Under whose mum, who suffers from Alzheimer's, could sadly not attend because of ill health . 'It was a bittersweet night because mum couldn't come, but I got to take my dad – and the premiere was just around the corner from the house I grew up in. It meant the world to me,' admits Peter. Watch this space, says ambitious Peter Andre He is now working on a plan to spend more time out on the Gold Coast making more memories with his parents, who have been married 70 years this September. Fighting back tears, an emotional Peter said: 'If there's a way I could just go there for the next five years and be with them more often, I would do it in a heartbeat. All about Peter Andre Who is Peter Andre? Why did Peter and All about Peter's daughter with ex-wife Who is Peter Andre's All the news about Peter Andre Who is 'Everyone knows how much I love 'One thing that mum said that's really stuck with me is I kept saying, 'but mum, I need you' and she said, 'like, you need me, your kids need you'. 'I don't want to be without her. It's tough even saying it. 'It's causing a lot of anxiety, but I've got to be here for my kids. I'm working on ways to be able to spend more time out in Australia with my Emily and the kids.' 6 Peter's parents Savvas and Thea Andrea Credit: Instagram Thanks to the backing of his family, Peter's screen acting career is just getting started. 'I've got a TV drama, a 10-part series, that I've filmed, which will be coming out later in the year", he adds. 'I'm not allowed to give the title away, but it's an international release on Paramount+. 'Also, I can't wait until we start on the Jafaican sequel. So, watch this space.' Watch Jafaican in ODEON cinemas now, starring Bradley Turner, Peter Andre , Alexander Garcia, Sizzla Kalonji, Jamie Lomas , Wil Johnson, Jessica-Jane Stafford.
