Bilker exposed

A GUEST house has this week laid a charge of fraud against an alleged serial bilker, who has left a number of Cape hotel and guest houses with unpaid bills over the past couple of years. He has been named as former radio and newspaper journalist, Garth Verdal. Verdal has also been banned from both of Cape Town's daily newspapers for borrowing money from staff and not repaying them. A newspaper house security spokesperson has reported that wanted posters identifying Verdal were erected throughout the building to alert staff. "We advise hotels, backpacker hostels and guest houses - until further notice - to exercise extreme caution if he tries to book in," warns a spokesperson from the Guest House Association of South Africa. (Simon Farrell)