Three people, including a husband and wife, have appeared in court after being charged in an investigation linked to international personal protective equipment (PPE) fraud.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Jogesh Bhandari, 58, and Craig Morris, 41, were both charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering, in relation to a scheme to benefit from PPE shortages during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Bhandari’s wife, Meenakshi Bhandari, 56, has been charged with money laundering, with all three pleading not guilty at Leicester Magistrates’ Court this week.

They have been bailed to appear at Leicester Crown Court on 16 December for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

The NCA said investigators believed the defendants “brokered sale agreements to supply nitrile gloves to companies in the US and Germany worth over $35m (£26.9m)”.

Together, the trio – the NCA said – might have defrauded the companies by almost £1.9m ($2.35m).

Mr and Mrs Bhandari, from Loughborough in Leicestershire, appeared in court on Wednesday, while Mr Morris, from Lytham St Annes in Lancashire, appeared on Monday.

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