The former finance director of Merlin Colour Printers will appear in court next week to answer nine charges of theft and false accounting.

Colin Moseley will appear at Southend Magistrates Court on 6 September when his case will be committed to the Crown Court.

It cant be dealt with at the Magistrates Court as the charges arent minor enough, said DC Marion Tyson of Essex Police.

I cant say how long it will be before he is dealt with [following next weeks hearing].

It might be adjourned and he might plead not guilty and it will go to trial, she added.

The charges, which include one of deception and one of forgery, were brought this week (28 August) following an investigation by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Moseley had been with the Canvey Island-based print company for six years and was made a director in October 1999.

He left the firm on 22 January this year and was reported to the police a week later.

He was subsequently arrested and released on bail without charge while the CPS investigated the case against him (PrintWeek, 20 July).

Following Moseleys departure, Merlin was placed into administrative receivership by its bank.

But the firm was acquired last week by print management specialist Bridge Direct (PrintWeek, 24 August).

Story by Lauretta Roberts