A Supreme Court jury heard a tale of corruption, crime and adultery yesterday in the trial of a man accused of setting fire to a fishing boat.

The man accused of burning the charter boat Challenger last year, told the Police he was acting under orders from the vessel's owner which were relayed to him by a Policeman.

Gilbert Simons said in an interview with Police that the fire was part of an insurance scam, and the court heard that owner Alan Card later collected over $100,000 for the loss of the boat.

Simons, 28, who is standing trial for wilfully and unlawfully setting fire to Challenger , confessed to arson two days after the blaze which destroyed the 49-foot cabin cruiser while it was on the slip at Robinson's Marina in Somerset.

Yesterday the jury heard testimony from Det. Con. Trent Lightbourne who headed the investigation into the blaze which erupted in the early hours of April 2 last year.

Det. Con. Lightbourne said he arrested Simons after searching his Southampton home on the morning of April 4. The search turned up a plastic bottle containing kerosene.

In a series of interviews later that day, Simons told Police he was approached on the afternoon of March 31 by his uncle -- P.c. Jerome Simons -- who offered him $5,000 to burn the boat.

Simons also told Police he was given the impression the order came either from the boat's owner, Alan Card, or his son Ian Card.

Simons said he thought the Cards wanted the Challenger burnt "for any number of reasons''. Either, he said, Alan Card wanted to get the insurance money, or Ian Card wanted revenge because Alan Card had been sleeping with his wife, he claimed.

The defendant also told Police he was to be paid by Alan Card, but indirectly, through his uncle P.c. Simons. Simons added that Mr. Card wanted to collect insurance money on Challenger so he could buy a new boat. Through his statements, the Court heard how Simons bought $2 worth of gas from Robinson's Gas Station on April 1. He climbed onto the boat shortly before midnight, poured gas and kerosene down a deck vent, lighting the mixture with a book of paper matches.

Earlier the Court heard testimony from Bermuda Fire and Marine Insurance Company executive Michael Soares, who handled Challenger's insurance.

According to Mr. Soares, the boat was insured for $107,000.

Jury hears allegations of corruption The insurance man said he first heard the boat had been destroyed when Mr.

Card called him the morning of the fire. He said Challenger's policy had in fact lapsed almost a month before, adding that Mr. Card, "appeared surprised and concerned'' to learn the boat's policy was invalid.

Mr. Soares said that after considering the case, BF&M executives decided to accept a late premium payment from Mr. Card and pay him $106,980 compensation for the loss of the boat.

In his opening statement to the five-woman, seven-man jury on Wednesday, Crown Counsel Phillip Storr told the court that since Simons admitted setting the blaze, the jury would have to decide ultimately if he did so wilfully and unlawfully, or not.

On the trial's first day, the jury heard testimony from Card who said he never authorised Mr. Simons, or anyone else, to burn his boat. Yesterday Puisne Judge Norma Wade sent the jury home early so she could hear legal arguments.

The case continues today.