$21,025 from the Bermuda Fire and Marine Insurance Company.

Bridgewater, 52, who owns a dental practice on Washington Street, Hamilton, faces 17 charges of obtaining cash by falsely making claims for dental insurance benefit for a number of people, and one charge of theft. Police claim the offences took place in 1989.

His lawyer Mr. Robin McMillan asked Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis not to read out the charges to Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, but Mr. Francis insisted on reading counts one, two, 17 and 18.

A former self-confessed drug addict, Bridgewater was bailed, in the sum of $1,000, to return to Magistrates' Court, on Tuesday, December 8, for mention.

It is likely that the case will be dealt with in Supreme Court.

Police raided the dentist's office in 1991 and the case was passed on to the Attorney Geenral's office.

Bridgewater of Sharon Lane, Pembroke, was a United Bermuda Party MP for Paget West between 1980 and 1983.