The media should not be banned from reporting further extracts from a leaked Police dossier on the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC ) scandal, the Island’s highest court of appeal ruled today.

Five Law Lords from the Privy Council, sitting in London, said previous refusals by Chief Justice Richard Ground and the Court of Appeal to interfere with the freedom of the press were correct.

They also awarded the costs, which could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, against the Government.

Attorney General Philip Perinchief and Commissioner of Police George Jackson asked for the media ban earlier this year after ZBM television news broadcast extracts from the Police files on May 23, and the Mid-Ocean News published stories on June 1 containing further details.

According to the extracts published by the Mid-Ocean News, Premier Ewart Brown, former Premier Jennifer Smith, former Minister Renee Webb, construction boss Zane DeSilva and others were investigated by Police looking into allegations of corruption at the BHC.

* Watch this website through the day for updates, and read tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette for full reports and reaction.