A Canadian man charged with stealing from his local employer suggested he was a victim of "the old boys network''.

Colin Clive Andrew Cave, 49, gave Supreme Court testimony for the third consecutive day yesterday.

He allegedly used some $54,000 from the accounts of Davison's of Bermuda for unauthorised personal travel, loans, and advances in 1995.

Cave has admitted to using a signed, blank money transfer form to send himself $25,000 of the money the day after he was fired.

But he told the nine-woman, three-man jury his contribution to the company's success and a verbal agreement with Davison's president Norman Davison entitled him to the money.

"Finally the company was making money and I should be entitled to part of it,'' Cave said.

"That year I was fired so I wouldn't get my piece of the pie.

"... I was in Bermuda long enough to know how the old boys network works.'' And Cave, defended by lawyer Mark Petingill, said he would do "everything again'' because he believed he was right.

But Crown counsel Peter Eccles challenged Cave.

"You don't particularly care if the owner of the money, or the court of law agrees with you,'' said Mr. Eccles. "As long as you think you are entitled to it.'' Earlier in the trial Cave also told the court he had hidden $9,000 from an overseas business venture inside Davison's company accounts so as not to pay US taxes.

He admitted "it was a bit inappropriate'', but denied the act was illegal.

But Mr. Eccles was unconvinced.

"You knew that concealing income by, in effect, parking it in BVH Ltd.

constituted tax evasion,'' he said.

He also challenged Cave's earlier assertion that he had been due half his $65,000 a year salary after his dismissal.

Cave initially tried to use the transfer form to send $32,500, but was limited to a $25,000 maximum.

But Mr. Eccles pointed out Cave's contract had only four and a half months left when he was fired.

The trial continues today before Puisne Judge Richard Ground.