TWO men have appeared in court charged with large-scale internet escort and debt scams, as well as money laundering nearly �4million between them.

Mark Bell, of Westerfield Road, Westerfield, is accused of four offences relating to acquiring, retaining, using or controlling criminal property.

The 40-year-old is also charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

The offences are alleged to have taken place over a period spanning nine years.

The first and second money laundering charges relate to between August 8, 2007 and April 24, 2010, and involve �588,312 and �1,926,300.

The third is from February 1, 2001 to May 6, 2009 and involves �414,043. The fourth relates to �590,084 and is said to have been taken place between January 31, 2008 and December 4, 2008.

All the charges involve entering into an alleged arrangement to hold money on behalf of Anthony Muldoon.

The conspiracy to defraud allegation is said to have taken place between July 1, 2007 and June 15, 2010.

Bell is claimed to been involved in a conspiracy involving Muldoon, Colin Samuels, Geraldine French and Bradley Rogers to defraud people of funds provided for the provision of escort and companion services.

A similar charge has been laid in relation to an alleged debt elimination fraud.

Samuels, 60, of The Street, Redgrave, near Diss, is also charged with two offences of conspiracy to defraud and two alleging involvement in money laundering a total of �371,582.

The first hearing of their cases took place after they were summonsed to South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

Bell and Samuels were committed to Ipswich Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on August 30.

Escort websites such as Adorabelles, Candy Escorts, European Escorts, Date Angels, Diamond Companions and Delightful Stars, were said to have been involved after an inquiry by Suffolk Trading Standards officers and police.

A debt-elimination company promising to clear money people owed is also alleged to have been part of a connected fraud.

Muldoon, 65, and Rogers, 29, previously had their cases committed to crown court after appearing before Ipswich magistrates following their extraditions from Spain.

Their next hearing is scheduled on September 21.

Muldoon is accused of two counts of conspiracy to defraud involving between �1.7m and �1.8m.

Rogers, a South African-national, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud and one count of money laundering.

It is believed the allegation involves around �750,000.

Two other men from Nottingham and Devon are currently facing separate money laundering charges.

Their cases are also at Ipswich Crown Court.

The British authorities are still awaiting the extradition of Geraldine French, 59, from Spain after she was detained on a European Arrest Warrant in relation to the alleged internet frauds.