A former dentist has appeared in court accused of involvement in a massive cannabis factory.
At Ballymena Magistrates Court, Robert Alexander McMitchell (59) confirmed he was aware of two charges against him.
From Whitehouse Park in Newtownabbey he is accused of “being concerned in the management of premises at Broughshane Street, Ballymena, knowingly permitted or suffered the production of a controlled drug of Class B, namely cannabis” and one further charge of possessing criminal property, namely a sum of cash, on September 27 last year.
His co-accused 47-year-old Lin Wang appeared at court by videolink from prison and he was charged with three offences including cultivating cannabis at his Broughshane Street home on September 27, possessing the Class B drug and possession of cannabis with intent to supply, on the same date.
None of the facts were opened in court on Thursday but when Wang was first charged last September, the court heard how police seized 350 cannabis plants from the property.
Freeing McMitchell on bail and remanding Wang back into custody District Judge Nigel Broderick returned the case to Antrim Crown Court for trial, scheduling the arraignment to be heard on October 17.