Purdie, 52 and the former boss of now defunct SARB firm NEPB, has appeared in a Newcastle court charged over his involvement with three companies named as Financial Freedom, Residential Supermarket and Trust House Investment Company.
Last Tuesday (23rd November) he was charged with an offence under Section 11 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act, which states anyone declared bankrupt can no longer be involved in running a company.
Purdie, of South Wardley Farm, Wardley, Gateshead, did not enter a plea when he went before Newcastle magistrates last week.
Kenneth Finn, 56, of Bondicar Terrace, Blyth, Northumberland, also appeared accused of aiding and abetting Purdie.
Both men were granted bail and will appear at Newcastle Crown Court in January.
Previous allegations relating to NEPB and Newcastle Home Loans were brought against Purdie after hundreds of Tyneside families who sold their homes to the firm believing they would be able to rent them back were turfed out after the company defaulted on mortgages secured on many of the 2,000 properties in its portfolio.
A High Court Judge ruled that the mortgage lender has more right to the properties than the tenants – many families still face eviction.
Purdie and wife Grace were both directors of the companies and were among a number arrested and questioned in connection with the police investigation.
The couple have both since been declared bankrupt.
Purdie was granted bail on the condition he does not contact witnesses Michael McFetrich, Christopher Levee, Malcolme Miller, Andrew Cooper, Timothy Hardy, Paul Knowles, Mark Gardiner, Michael Brown, Joe Darragh and Mary Marlow.
