The long-overdue Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) annual reports are finally to be tabled the House of Assembly, Government said yesterday.

Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent blamed the Police investigation into the scandal-hit quango for the delay in publishing the reports.

BHC has to table annual reports to the House every year, but none have been produced since 2001.

Mr. DeVent said yesterday that the 2002 audit had been completed and financial statements were going to press for printing, but they were held up the Police investigation into BHC.

The Police probe was into allegations of rampant corruption, fraud, double-billing and mismanagement at BHC.

He said the backlog of BHC annual reports should be made public by the end of this year.

Former Shadow Housing Minister Michael Dunkley, who exposed the scandal in 2002, said yesterday he welcomed the news, but would not be holding his breath until the reports are actually tabled.

And he accused the Government of ?hiding? behind the Police investigation and said he would be ?very, very disappointed? if no one was brought to justice.

He added: ?There have been thousands of Police man-hours and thousands of taxpayers? dollars spent and if nothing comes out of it we will have to wonder why this money was spent.?

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser said in May that he recommended Police charge one man and consider charges against another in connection with the scandal.

According to Wednesday?s Bermuda Sun, Mr. Ratneser said he had issued a summonses for a man to appear in court on Monday charged with 49 counts of obtaining money by false pretences. Mr. Ratneser was not in his office yesterday.

But, despite rumours that past and present PLP Cabinet members had been implicated in the affair, Mr. Ratneser said in May no politicians will be charged and none had been interviewed.

Mr. DeVent said yesterday the 2003 BHC audit was held up because of the 2002 audit.

?The fieldwork for the 2003 audit was completed and the financial statements were with the managers and partners of the audit firm that has been contracted by the Auditor General to conduct the 2003 review,? he said.

?It is anticipated that the 2003 financial statements will be ready for printing mid-August and tabled before parliament along with the 2002 financial statements by the end of the year.

?The 2004 audit is scheduled to begin mid-July and these financial statements are also expected to be tabled by the end of the year.

Mr. Dunkley said yesterday: ?I am pleased to see that there appears to be some movement although the reports have not yet been tabled, so I won?t hold my breath.

?They are all contrary to the rules of the House because they have not been tabled on time and I am very concerned about that.?