pay over $2,000 for five off-duty Police officers who worked at a cricket match last year.

Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) president and lawyer Mr. Edward Bailey told the court that the BCBC never requested the officers which was why they refused to pay four constables and a sergeant who were on duty.

BCBC Secretary Mr. Wilton Smith testified that the officers were never requested but said the BCCB was willing to pay two of the officers, out of courtesy, for the work they provided.

Lawyer Miss Nicole Stoneham said the Ministry of Finance -- on behalf of Police Commissioner Mr. Colin Coxall -- wanted payment of the bill for the officers who worked at the Champion of Champions cricket match at Lords in St.

David's on September 3 and 4 in 1994.

Retired Chief Inspector Winston Esdaille said he spoke to St. David's County Cricket Club president Mr. Edward Lamb on two separate occasions.

On both occasions Mr. Lamb requested Police officers and when he was asked who should be billed, he replied the BCBC said Mr. Esdaille.

But he said he could not recall another instance where a club officer had told him to bill the BCBC.

He explained that on this occasion "I gathered from my conversation with Mr.

Lamb that he had the sanctions of the BCBC to act on their behalf''.

Mr. Lamb agreed that the conversations had taken placed but said Mr. Esdaille must have misunderstood their content.

He said that they had discussed the logistics of hiring Police officers for the cricket match but stressed that he never hired any officers because that was the governing body's duty.

He told the court that the BCBC were the governing body in this situation and the club were the field marshals. This meant they did not have the power to request Police officers on the BCBC's behalf, added Mr. Lamb.

He said all he had ordered from the Police were metal barricades for the grounds because that was all he was authorised to do.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis adjourned the trial for judgment yesterday afternoon and said he would call the lawyers when he was ready to deliver his verdict.

12,000 BUS TICKETS STOLEN CRM 12,000 bus tickets stolen A total of 12,000 bus tickets worth thousands of dollars have been stolen in a raid on the cargo shed at Bermuda International Airport.

Public Transportation Board director Herman Basden said: "This is a big nuisance and a big concern.

"These tickets are probably being sold at a discount rate and that is doing nothing for the already heavily-subsidised bus system.

"It's a despicable thing to have done. The people who took these tickets are stealing taxpayers' money and putting at risk the jobs of people employed in the bus service.'' The tickets -- a total of 200 student and 600 adult books of 15 tickets each -- were taken from the cargo shed between Saturday, October 14 and Tuesday, October 17.

Police spokeswoman Inspector Roseanda Jones said: "We believe these tickets are being sold by unauthorised persons.'' She added: "If anyone has any of these books in their possession, they should turn them into the Police immediately.'' And she warned: "Anyone found with any of the stolen tickets may be prosecuted for receiving stolen property.'' Anyone with any information which could help Police should contact Police Headquarters on 295-0011 or call Crime Stoppers on 1-800-623-8477.

Police also issued the serial numbers of the stolen tickets. These are student 300301--300400 and 311901--312000 and adult 190501--190600, 191301--191400, 191401--191500, 191501--191600, 192401--192500, and 192501--192600.