Four people have appeared in court in Britain accused of running a multimillion-dollar money laundering operation.

Jeffrey and Samantha Bevan, Joel Ismail and Paul Charity are accused of laundering the proceeds of $2.5 million allegedly stolen from the Government of Bermuda between May 2011 and June 2013.

The charges stem from a number of financial transactions allegedly conducted by Mr Bevan while he was employed in the office of the Accountant-General in Bermuda.

The alleged theft was discovered after Mr Bevan and his wife left Bermuda after the funds were transferred by electronic means through a local financial institution.

Mr Bevan, 49, and Mrs Bevan, 51, from Cwmbran in Wales and Joel Ismail, 41, and Paul Charity, 51, both of Leicester, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on April 28 charged in connection with various money laundering offences.

All four defendants entered not guilty pleas to the money laundering charges.

Mr Bevan denied a further charge of stealing an additional £50,000, while Mr Charity pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice.

A trial date has been set for January 8, next year, and all four were granted unconditional court bail.

The charges follow a four-year joint international police investigation that has involved the Bermuda Police Service and the UK Regional Organised Crime Unit in Wales.

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