FORMER Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay, party member Thomas O'Hara and loyalist Jamie Bryson are expected to appear in court on Tuesday for the start of a criminal trial linked to a Stormont committee hearing.
In the first case of its kind in Northern Ireland, the three will appear at Belfast Magistrates Court, charged in connection with the presentation of evidence to a committee investigating a property scandal.
The Irish News revealed in June last year that the Public Prosecution Service had directed a prosecution in relation to a dramatic evidence session of the Finance Committee in September 2015.
The scandal had been linked to a Stormont investigation into the National Assets Management Agency (Nama) property deal.
The Republic's 'bad bank,' was set up to deal with toxic loans after the 2008 property crash.
The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) is investigating a deal to sell Nama's interests in Northern Ireland deal after cash was transferred to an Isle of Man bank account.
All three men face a charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office "by the manipulation of the presentation of evidence" before a public session of the committee.
Jamie Bryson has indicated that he intends to represent himself in the case.
A number of senior politicians, both current and retired, are expected to be called as witnesses during the high profile prosecution.
