Developer's mansion raided in tit-for-tat

By PATRICK GOWER

Property developer Mark Lyon has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in underworld "taxes" in the past two months.

The Herald has learned that men tore the gates off Lyon's Mt Eden mansion and raided his property while he was appearing in court on drugs and ammunition charges on November 29. The gates have been replaced.

It is understood that the property taken includes motorcycles, a possum-skin bedspread, artwork, cash and jewellery. Sources close to Lyon value the missing goods at anywhere between $250,000 and $800,000.

The Herald has also learned that Lyon gave a $150,000 Jaguar to an underworld figure two weeks beforehand.

Police are aware of the missing property but say they will not investigate until they receive a complaint.

In the same raid, property was taken from Lyon's associates at another address, including an $83,000 Harley Davidson motorcycle his lawyer, Chris Comeskey, was holding in exchange for fees from another client.

The property taken was "taxed" by a group of men linked to former Hell's Angel Petar Vitali, an associate of Lyon. He told the Herald that after he went to the media appealing for Lyon to give himself up while armed police were hunting him, Lyon's minder Jamie Lockett called and threatened him.

"So I rang my guys and said, 'I've been threatened. The guy represents Mark Lyon. That threat overflows and you have got a free hand to do ... whatever.

"I thought they would take about $250,000, but it turned out they got $800,000. So [Lyon] was taxed pretty heavy."

Asked why he had not called the police, Mr Vitali replied: "I ain't got a justice system - I just got justice."

Mr Lockett said claims he had made threats were "not true and correct". He confirmed that property had been taken but refused to comment further.

Lyon could not be reached yesterday. It is understood that he has returned to an overseas resort to "rest" while on bail.

Mr Comeskey would not comment without Lyon's permission but confirmed the Harley Davidson he was holding had been stolen. He said he had not laid a complaint with police because the motorcycle was not yet officially in his name and "because I don't know the full circumstances of how it was taken".

Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier, who heads the Auckland organised crime squad, said police knew that property had been taken from the mansion but had not received a complaint "and we are not going to solicit one, either".

"Lyon is aware of it. Obviously until he makes a complaint there is nothing the police can do."

Mr Brazier said police also knew that the Jaguar was "given" to an underworld associate by Lyon. He also believed a Mercedes worth about $200,000 had been given away in the same way recently.

"Whether they were extorted from him or not, Lyon has not told us. Again, we are not going to solicit a complaint, but if he wants us to investigate it, we will."

Lyon has been on bail for the past month after pleading not guilty in the Auckland District Court to two charges of possessing explosives and one each of possessing a glass pipe for committing a drugs crime and possessing a pistol.

He has also denied 15 charges from two incidents that took place between November 2001 and January last year. They include assaulting a policeman, threatening to kill a policeman, stealing a magazine, dangerous driving and assault.

Lyon has been director of 17 companies in the past six years, and backed the $60 million Chancery shopping centre in Auckland City.