Suspended sentence for bank fraud

A woman has been given a six month suspended prison sentence for her part in the fraud of banks and credit card companies.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Spanish woman Sonia Gomez, who studied in Uwic, played a minor role in the fraud.

Her partner, Mustaffa Bilgassam, 31 whom she met while in college, and two other men had a far more expansive role in the operation, the court heard.

Gomez, 32, was also sentenced to do 40 hours of community work.

The fraudsters would open bank accounts, the court heard, and take out credit cards using false names, defrauding companies of ten of thousands of pounds.

They set up a fake business in Cardiff to provide false employment details. Prosecutor Peter Davies said Gomez had helped the fraudsters by documenting and keeping records.

He said her handwriting was found on two documents detailing information about two bogus applicants.

The court heard how Gomez began an international business studies course in Cardiff in April 2005.

Well-established enterprise

Months later she met Bilgassam, they moved in together in Cathays and became betrothed in an Islamic ceremony.

Defending, Michael Mather-Lees said Gomez had an "impeccable character" and came from a good family.

He added she had been induced into the activity and said the fraud had been a well-established enterprise before she came to the country.

Mr Mather-Lees added Gomez had not personally benefited and had not shipped money back to Spain.

He said she had since moved to back to Spain and had secured fixed employment as personal assistant in a logistics company in Madrid.

However, before sentencing Judge John Curran said Gomez had participated in a "sophisticated operation" which was a "modern version of cross-firing cheques" with the consequential fraud of thousands of pounds.

The judge said Gomez was well educated and that there was no excuse for what she had done.

It is expected Ali Jalali, Mohammed Elhelaly, and Mustaffa Bilgassam, all from Cardiff, will be sentenced later in August for their involvement in the fraud.