East Kingston businessman Danhai Williams is to be tried along with six other accused for allegedly defrauding the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC) of $451 million.

The seven accused appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court Monday when the trial date was set.

The other accused are Carl Kirkland, financial controller employed to Danwill Construction Company; Warren Sibbles, former director of technical services at the NHDC; Donovan Hill, former project manager at the NHDC; Eugenny Porter, president of the Melbroo Provident Society; Wayne Nash, president of the St. Benedict' Provident Society; and Dwight Dawkins, president of the Morant Lands Provident Society.

The seven were arrested and charged in October 2003 following a year-long probe into massive irregularities which were uncovered in relation to Operation PRIDE projects.

It is being alleged that the NHDC was defrauded of $451 million. The Crown is alleging that money was paid out for work not done on Operation PRIDE projects.