A Ballymena man was on Thursday ordered to stand trial accused of a £16,000 Lotto scratchcard fraud.
At the town's Magistrates Court, Timothy James Douglas (40), of Herbison Fields, was charged with five counts of fraud by abuse of the position he held with Wineflair Ltd.
The charges allege that while occupying a position in which he was expected to safeguard the financial interests of the company, Mr Douglas activated batches of National Lottery scratchcards but did not put them on public display for sale.
He also faces 13 counts of fraud by false representation, namely that he was lawfully entitled to claim winnings, of various monetary values, from the scratchcards.
The offences are alleged to have taken place on dates between April 2011 and April 2012.
Disputed by defence
A Public Prosecution Service lawyer claimed Wineflair had suffered a loss of about £16,000, but defence solicitor John McAtamney said this figure was disputed by the defence.
Mr McAtamney described the charges against Mr Douglas as a “breach of trust” case.
Mr Douglas was returned for arraignment, on his own bail of £1,000 (€1,400), to Antrim Crown Court on December 4th.
District Judge Des Perry described the charges against Mr Douglas as “a very, very serious matter”.
He certified the case as being suitable for instructing senior defence counsel for the defendant for the Crown Court proceedings.