Alleged fraudster to stand trial next year
A Matamata man accused of defrauding software investors of more than $400,000 will stand trial in February next year.
Brian Jeffrey Duffell, 53, faces 36 charges relating to his company Silicon Rainbow Ltd, which was used to help market and promote his internet marketing seminars around New Zealand and Australia.
Despite being listed in Hamilton District Court documents as a spray painter, it is in an alleged role as a software developer that he is facing charges. One of the programmes he developed has been described as an office solution system. Duffell would offer his products in a way that meant the buyer would have exclusive rights to market it exclusively in a certain area of New Zealand, akin to a franchise.
Duffell is the sole director of Silicon, which is based at his Waikato home. His wife is also a shareholder.
Police started to receive complaints in 2013 from people claiming that they had paid money to Duffell for the alleged ‘‘exclusive rights’’ but soon discovered otherwise.
The alleged offending is based on seven complainants stating the rights were not exclusive as the product had been sold under a different name to another party. They also complained that he made false representations about the product, and that the product did not have all the features that were claimed.
Duffell appeared in the Hamilton District Court on April 2 before Judge David Wilson, who remanded him at large until the start of his three- week trial starting on February 1. He also has a callover on September 10, from which his appearance has been excused.
At an earlier appearance in September last year, Duffell entered not guilty pleas to multiple charges of using a document, obtaining by deception. He also pleaded guilty to charges of knowingly being party to a company with intent to defraud and with intent to obtain pecuniary advantage using a Trade Me classified inquiry knowing it to have been altered and using a Quick Office Pro Licence Agreement for pecuniary advantage.
The offending is alleged to have occurred between October 1, 2011 and January 31, 2014, and totalled about $420,000.
At his appearance in September, Duffell was remanded on bail but ordered to surrender his passport and not to apply for any travel documents.