A THREE-week trial is to be held next year after eight people appeared in court on charges related to corruption.
The defendants, believed to include former staff from Edinburgh City Council and contractors involved in council repairs, appeared at the city's sheriff court yesterday. All pled not guilty.
Sheriff Isabella McColl granted a motion to extend the time bar on the case to next June to allow the case to be prepared. A hearing is set for February, with a trial date set for May next year.
Those facing charges are John Markham, 40, of Musselburgh, East Lothian, James Costello, 44, Charles Owenson, 61, Martin Rennie, 52, all of Edinburgh, Kevin Balmer, 52, Brendan Cantwell, 44, both of Livingston, West Lothian, Gordon McKenzie, 51, of Lasswade, Midlothian, and Graham Campbell, 63, of Falkirk.
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