TWO company directors and two women will stand trial for their part in an alleged money laundering operation totalling nearly £250,000, a court heard yesterday.

Barry Hermon, 67, of Sittingbourne, Kent - who ran Newport-based Able Skip Hire Ltd, with co-director Dennis Morgan, 62, of Broadstreet Common, Newport - denies 14 counts of concealing criminal property from the company he ran and one count of obtaining money by deception from Susan Pike and the Welsh Assembly to a total of £113,074.38.

Morgan pleaded not guilty to offences, including concealing criminal property and obtaining money by deception, totalling £226,903.07.

Hermon’s wife Susan, 56, of Fields Road, Newport, denies the concealment of criminal property to the value of £43,788.01, whilst Morgan’s daughter Grace 42, of Broadstreet Common, Newport, pleaded not guilty to charges of concealment of criminal property totalling £172,203.07.

Some charges apply to individual defendants, whilst others concern more than one.

The matter was adjourned for trial on September 20.

All defendants were released on unconditional bail.