A GWENT businessman appeared in court yesterday accused of conspiracy to commit fraud.

Paul Dallimore, 60, of Wentwood View, Caldicot, appeared in Cardiff Crown Court with three coaccused fromWalesandthe north of England.

Dallimore pleaded not guilty to four counts of conspiracy to commit fraud and one count of carrying outanunauthorised investment business between March 2008 and June 2009.

He stands accused with Alun Weeks, 60, of Heol Dun, Cardiff, who denies the same charges as Dallimore, as well as one count of acting as a company director while an undischarged bankrupt.

Mohammed Suba Miah, 31, of Schofield Close, Rossendale, Lancashire, denied four counts of conspiracy to commit fraud, one count of carrying out an unauthorised investment business, seven counts of fraud, one count of theft, one count of concealing criminal property and two counts of forgery.

Mohammed Shofi Miah, 36, of Cape Street, Rossendale, pleaded not guilty to one count of concealing criminal property.

The trial date was fixed as April 16, 2012.