Poker Partnership Falls Foul in New ZealandFriends Fall Out Over Tournament Winnings; High Court to Decide |
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A battle on the felt turned into a battle in court after two New Zealand poker playing friends fell out over tournament winnnings. According to New Zealand news site, The Dominion Post, Bakery owner Jamil Dia won more than AU$500,000 in 2005 in a poker tournament at the Crown Casino in Melbourne. This in turn has led to five court appearances due largely to the fact his former friend, hairdresser Constantine Harash, believes that $100,000 of the winnings belong to him.
Harach’s argument stems from his claim that they had shared winnings in the past, and that they had agreed to share 20 percent of each other’s winnings before this tournament.
Arguments for and against the claim included the appearance of another professional poker player who informed the court of the regularity of partnerships and swapping percentages that occur in the poker world. Dia’s argument was strengthened by the fact that he paid $75,000 to Dino Focas, a friend who gave Dia 15 percent of the $10,000 buy-in in return for 15 percent of any winnings. Dia’s lawyer told the court that this proves his client pays his debts.
The matter got even more complicated because after the Melbourne tournament, Harach went to great lengths to get what he believes is his share of the winnings, pretending he was very low on money. In return he received $38,000 from his “friend” but this kicked everything off as Dia then took him to court to get what he believed was a “loan” back. He won the argument after Harach admitted that it was an attempt to get some of what he felt was owed to him from the winnings.
Previously, the district court judge was unconvinced of Harach’s argument, but an unrelenting Harrach appealed this, and now the high court judge, Justice Forrie Miller, will have the last say.
