A LIQUIDATOR looking into the collapse of a controversial developer could push for seven individuals to be questioned in court.

Absolute Living Developments went into liquidation last year, leaving three Bradford projects unfinished and owing millions to overseas investors.

Now liquidator Louise Brittain, who has been appointed by creditors to attempt to recover the money owed, has said she has received claims for losses totalling a massive £93m - far higher than original estimates.

But what happened to investors’ deposits remains a mystery.

In a progress report, Ms Brittain said she had sought to interview the following seven people, but none had attended interviews to date:

- Daniel Harrison, company director, now understood to be living in Singapore;

- The previous director of the company, Dr Kien Cheong Yew;

- Kay Cook and David Sewell of solicitors Oliver and Co;

- Richard Hutchinson, a director of Harbur Construction;

- Michael Roden, a former director of UM1 Limited, a building contractor now in liquidation, and a former director of financiers DS7 Limited;

- Phillip Wright, a previous director of building contractor EPG Manlet Limited.

She said: “I will continue to chase the above individuals and in the event they do not attend for a formal interview, I shall seek advice on whether to proceed to make an application to court under section 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 to seek their examination before the court.”

Absolute Living Developments went into liquidation after Bradford Council, which was owed more than £180,000 in business rates, went to the High Court to ask for it to be wound up in April last year.

Its collapse sparked angry protests in Hong Kong, where many of the buy-to-let investors are based.

In Bradford, the company had been working on three projects, creating apartments within the former Bradford Council office Olicana House in Chapel Street, Little Germany, the former Abbey National Direct call centre Alexander House, in Bolton Road, and the former Provident Financial base Colonnade House, now Summer Berry Residences, in Sunbridge Road.

Lancashire-based investment firm DS7 took ownership of both Olicana House and Alexander House, as a secured creditor.

The firm claims it was owed £24m by ALD, although Ms Brittain said she had been unable to agree this and her “investigations are ongoing”.

DS7 director Charlie Cunningham insisted its claim was valid.

Ms Brittain’s report reveals that she has also received claims from unsecured creditors totalling nearly £69m, but said these claims had not yet “been agreed”.

DS7 has been trying to get work on-site started again by striking a new deal with the original overseas investors.

But investors have been reluctant to enter into a new contract while ALD’s collapse is still being investigated, and the matter had been left in a stalemate.

While only a few of the apartments at Olicana House had been left unfinished, Alexander House remains boarded up.

Mr Cunningham told the Telegraph & Argus he was now looking to get the investors’ consent to sell both buildings to a new developer, who could then complete the projects.

He said this would mean the “investors would be getting their full money back”, while DS7 would also recoup some of its losses.

When asked why DS7 was late in filing its accounts, Mr Cunningham said this was “unfortunate” and was a result of the liquidation of ALD, but said they would be filed shortly.