Five men, including one believed to be a lord, have been ordered to stand trial accused of trying to steal £220 million by hacking into a Japanese bank's computer system.
Hugh Rodley, from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and named locally as Lord Rodley, allegedly teamed up with the others to target the London offices of Sumitomo Matsui Banking Corporation.
In the dock with him at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court were David Nash, 47, from Durrington, Worthing; Kevin O'Donoghue, 33, of Minstead Road, Birmingham; Bernard Davies, 73, of Ryders Avenue, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, and Dutchman Jan Van Osselier, 32.
The men, who were appearing at a short plea and case management hearing, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to defraud, steal, transfer criminal property, and remove criminal property from England and Wales.
According to the indictment they allegedly committed the offences between January 1 and October 5 2004.
Allowing all but Osselier bail, Judge Martyn Zeidman QC, told the defendants their three-month trial would start on January 7 next year.
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