over the fire which wrecked the fishing boat Challenger .

It is alleged they conspired to make a fraudulent insurance claim after setting the vessel ablaze.

Before Magistrates' Court were the boat's owner Alan Card, 48, of Wreck Road, Sandys Parish; and P.c. Jerome Simons, 43, of My Lord's Bay, Hamilton Parish, and his nephew Gilbert Ronald Stuart Simons, 28, of Rockaway Lane, Southampton.

The 49-foot Challenger was swept by fire while anchored off Robinson's Marina in Somerset this year. It is understood more than $100,000 damage was caused.

The defendants were charged with conspiring between March 22 and April 2 to wilfully and unlawfully set the charter boat ablaze.

They each faced separate charges of wilfully and unlawfully setting fire to the vessel.

In addition, they were accused of conspiring to defraud the Bermuda Fire & Marine General Insurance Company and making a claim over the boat.

The men remained impassive as Acting Senior Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Mapp read out the three charges.

Card was wearing a blue jacket, tie and shorts, P.c. Simons a red T-shirt, and Gilbert Simons a black Bob Marley T-shirt and jeans.

Card's lawyer was Mr. Saul Froomkin, while P.c. Simons, now supended by Bermuda Police, was represented by Ms Renee Foggo, acting for Mr. Archie Warner. Gilbert Simons was unrepresented. Crown Counsel was Mr. Leighton Rochester.

Ms Mapp released the men on $1,000 bail together with like surety and told them to return to court on September 3.

She refused Mr. Froomkin's appeal for his client to be released on his own recognizance.

Alan Card