The Magistrates' Court trial of a man accused of working without immigration permission last June has been adjourned until February 19.

Craig Raymond Trembath, 45, denies working on June 17, 1998 at the Gift Shoppe at Marriott Castle Harbour Resort and at a stall run by Castle Ceramics at Hamilton's Harbour Nights on Front Street.

Trembath, who's address is listed as Apex Management Services, Sea Venture Building, Hamilton, is represented by lawyer Paul Woolgar.

After legal arguments yesterday, Magistrate Edward King heard from only one witness, Immigration Inspector Andrea Daniels.

Under questioning by Crown counsel Larry Mussenden, Ms Daniels told of receiving information that Trembath was working illegally. Ms Daniels and another inspector went to the Marriott around 10.50 a.m. on June 17. They watched Trembath smoking a cigarette outside the shop, and lock the main door and post a sign that he would return at 11 a.m.

After reopening, he handled a transaction with a tourist, during which he totalled the amount of the goods and accepted cash money in return.

The inspectors confronted Trembath who became nervous and began to perspire as he explained he was employed by Apex Management as a manager but often had to fill in for an employee who was late.

Trembath was invited to meet with them the next day at their office in the Immigration Ministry's Global House office.

Armed with more information, that night they went to the Harbour Night Shopping on Front Street and saw Trembath selling ceramic replica lighthouses for Creative Ceramics. Ms Daniels admitted she could not see exactly where Trembath put the money but gestured and said it seemed to be in a drawer below the desk.

Again Trembath was approached and became nervous and sweated while being questioned.

In the scheduled meeting the next day, Trembath presented a letter which was to be used as a statement in the investigation.

Yesterday, Ms Daniels read the letter which listed several casual staff who work at various times in the gift shop at Marriott and gave the terms of his employment with Apex.