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How we reported on the court case.

A FRAUDSTER accused of cheating computer suppliers out of thousands of pounds by operating bogus businesses from offices in Redbourn was found guilty by a jury yesterday.

Gabriel Moruthoane, 40, ordered equipment on credit, collected it and disappeared before payment was due, St Albans Crown Court was told.

He made up companies and falsified accounts to persuade businesses selling computers to part with their equipment on credit.

Before the credit period ended and the money was due, Moruthoane, the company and the equipment had disappeared.

Prosecutor Ann Evans said the scam was set up using virtual offices, which are entirely legitimate, offering businesses cheap facilities such as a mailing address and a telephone answering service.

The bogus dealings were initially uncovered by Cherry Campbell, manager of Spectrum House in Dunstable Road, where Moruthoane set up his second business Quanticom in July 2006.

Quanticom was a legitimate company which had been lying dormant for a number of years until Moruthoane bought it off the shelf earlier that year. When dozens of packages started arriving at the offices in Redbourn, Mrs Campbell ended the deal with the company after becoming suspicious.

Miss Evans said Moruthoane of Helen Close, East Finchley, was the main player in the scam and used several false names to conceal his identity.

The jury could not reach a verdict against Geoffrey Obunigue, 36, of Cassio Road, Watford, who also went on trial for his part in the colossal scam.

Moruthoane will be sentenced at a later date.

4:17pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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