Clive Palmer is questioning reports his nephew Clive Mensink, who is wanted for questioning over the collapse of the Queensland Nickel refinery, has been found in Bulgaria.

News Corp Australia tracked and photographed Mensink, who has lost a significant amount of weight and now has a beard, to the Bulgarian capital of Sofia last week.

“When I last saw my nephew he looked nothing like that, so I don’t think they are him at all,” Palmer told ABC radio on Sunday.

Clive Palmer’s fugitive nephew, Clive Mensink, has been found in Europe and is almost unrecognisable after losing a dramatic amount of weight https://t.co/3Go6UCuIwZ pic.twitter.com/JpQ1eOWZcK — The Australian (@australian) February 10, 2018

Mensink was with his Bulgarian girlfriend, Gabriela Konstantinova, and another friend leaving the movies after seeing 50 Shades Freed, the third film in the 50 Shades of Grey series, when he was spotted.

The report said Mensink ducked into a pedestrian subway after being approached.

Konstantinova defended him, saying “I don’t think it is correct to embarrass him and interrupt him”.

In March last year, the federal court issued two warrants against Mensink after he failed to appear in Brisbane for examination. He had left Australia in June 2016, months after the Palmer-owned QN collapsed, leaving $300m in debts and hundreds without a job.

An Australian federal police spokesperson said they were aware an arrest warrant had been issued for Mensink.

“The AFP is currently assisting the federal court of Australia in relation to this matter,” the spokesperson said.

Queensland’s deputy premier, Jackie Trad, said it was hurtful for families and workers affected by QN to hear of Mensink’s life overseas.

“Clive Mensink should come back to Queensland and he should answer questions,” Trad told reporters on Sunday.