LOS ANGELES — Six current and former Bell city officials were ordered today to stand trial on charges of misappropriating public funds.

Mayor Oscar Hernandez, City Council members Teresa Jacobo and George Mirabal, and

former council members Luis Artiga, George Cole and Victor Bello are accused of taking part in a scam that siphoned $5.5 million in taxpayer money from the city’s coffers, primarily through lofty salaries.

They are all due to be arraigned March 2.

After a seven-day preliminary hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Henry J. Hall ruled there was sufficient evidence to order the six to stand trial. A preliminary hearing will begin Tuesday for former City Administrator Robert Rizzo and his assistant, Angela Spaccia.<QA>