TWO men are to stand trial accused of defrauding the tax man of more than £300,000.

Brinner Frank Patino Sabando and Callum Reid face two charges of VAT fraud and attempting to pervert the course of justice relating to two firms covering a period between 2008 and 2010.

Both deny the fraudulent evasion of VAT amounting to £171,964 between February 2008 and June 2009 at addresses in Dundee, Glasgow and elsewhere, or causing to be submitted in the name of Fresca Ltd, false claims for the repayment of VAT.

They also deny that between July 2009 and May 2010 they submitted or caused to be submitted false claims for VAT repayments in the names of Fresca Ltd and 12BE Consultancy Ltd amounting to £141,504.

Sabando, 40, of Dundee, and Reid, 27, of Forfar, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court. They were released on bail until March 18.