Former Premier Ewart Brown hit the headlines in June when it was alleged in Supreme Court that he tried to get his wife on the board of a private firm pitching for business with Government and get himself a personal stake in the company.The claims, described by Dr Brown as “outrageous” and “a total fabrication”, prompted police to launch an investigation to “determine whether any criminal offences have been committed”.They were made under oath by financier David Bolden during the trial of him and his wife Antoinette on charges that they stole from Emerald Capital International (ECI), a company they part-owned.Mr Bolden claimed a Government Minister told him that Dr Brown wanted ten percent of his wireless technology company and for Dr Brown’s wife Wanda Henton Brown to be placed on the board. The businessman also stated that the former Premier asked for a 60 percent share of the commission he earned from work on Bermuda’s public pension funds.Mr Bolden, who made his claims in answer to questions from a prosecutor and judge, said he rejected both approaches from Dr Brown.His allegations were not made in front of the jury in his trial, so The Royal Gazette could not report them until the trial finished on June 14.That day, the Boldens were cleared of theft and money laundering allegations but convicted of misleading the Bermuda Monetary Authority.Dr Brown tried to prevent publication of Mr Bolden’s claims beyond the end of the trial but Chief Justice Richard Ground ruled this newspaper could publish the story once the jury returned its verdicts.Mr Justice Ground ordered Dr Brown, represented by lawyers Mark Pettingill and Marc Daniels, to pay our legal costs.During the trial, the jury heard about a wireless internet project that ECI worked on.The project was described by the Boldens’ former ECI business partner John Wright as a “next generation giant hot spot” to link internet, telephones and high-definition television.Mr Wright, a prosecution witness, and the Boldens, who gave evidence in their own defence, told the jury about a presentation on November 4, 2008 where the wireless project was demonstrated to Government officials including then Premier Dr Brown at the Cabinet Office.The evidence was that a separate firm to manage the wireless project, Bold Bermuda, was incorporated on January 26, 2009 and Bold International was incorporated on February 17, 2009. Mr Bolden’s allegations about Dr Brown came when prosecutor Susan Mulligan asked him, during cross-examination on June 8, why he did not attend the Cabinet Office presentation on November 4, 2008.Before he had chance to answer the question, defence lawyer Andrew Martin asked to address the Chief Justice in the absence of the jury.Once the jury went out, Mr Martin said the answers likely to be given could have “somewhat of an inflammatory effect” and affect the course of the proceedings.The Chief Justice, in the absence of the jury, then asked Mr Bolden why he was not present at the meeting with Government. Mr Bolden told him: “The former Premier Ewart Brown had previously asked me to pay him 60 percent of any Government business I had. I refused to do that. I did not want to go to this meeting and find myself in a situation where another approach would be made.”Ms Mulligan probed Mr Bolden further about the context and timing relating to his allegation about Dr Brown.He told her: “This was just a couple of years ago. It was a well-publicised case in terms of pension funds.”He went on to say a Government Minister made an “overture” after Bold was set up, with the Minister allegedly telling him “that the Premier would like to have ten percent of the company and his wife be placed on the board”.Dr Brown was not present in court when the exchange occurred but later instructed lawyers to try to delay this newspaper from publishing Mr Bolden’s claims while he sought further legal advice.He lost his bid to stop the allegations being published at all during a hearing in the Chief Justice’s chambers on June 14.In a statement issued afterwards, he said: “This outrageous accusation is a total fabrication.”He condemned Mr Bolden for bringing his wife Wanda Brown’s name into it and said: “This will result in a separate legal response.”Mr Pettingill said Dr Brown planned to mount a private prosecution against Mr Bolden, alleging he had committed perjury.Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva confirmed on June 15 that detectives had “commenced inquiries to determine whether any criminal offences have been committed”.The same day, One Bermuda Alliance leader John Barritt described Mr Bolden’s allegations as “extremely serious”, adding: “They raise questions about the conduct of the Government of Bermuda that must be answered.”Dr Brown said on June 16 he welcomed the news of a police inquiry and would assist the investigation in any way he could. He challenged Mr Bolden to expand upon the allegations, which he strongly denied. Mr Pettingill said the plan for a private prosecution of Mr Bolden was “not viable” while the police investigation was under way.On June 17, Premier Paula Cox slammed the Opposition for playing “petty politics” and ‘impugning the integrity” of Government following the corruption claims.A police spokesman told The Royal Gazette on November 29 that the investigation into Mr Bolden’s claims was “still ongoing”.