which the defendant twice sought to have the matter heard in secret, evidence emerged about a Bermuda Bar Council objective to place further restrictions on who attorneys could represent.

It began to emerge as Puisne Judge, Mr. Hon. Justice Meerabux advised counsel for Focus Insurance company liquidators, Mr. Saul Froomkin, that the accused was "going for the jugular. He's trying to get you removed.'' Mark Hardy, in the absence of legal counsel, insisted that Mr. Froomkin could not represent Focus Insurance liquidators because he knew that there was a good chance that he could be called as a potential witness in the matter that was before the court yesterday.

He, in fact, revealed that he had written a letter of complaint about Mr.

Froomkin to the Bar Council and that a Bar Council response dated May 6, indicated that the bar had proposed three years ago changes to the rules that would have prohibited such representation. But nothing had been done.

Hardy claimed that the Bar Council had set up a special sub-committee just to hear his complaint, but that many withdrew, citing conflicts of interest. He said that the council lamented the fact that they were unable to affect a "disinterested quorum'' to hear the complaint. He said that at least one officer of the Bar Council, in a preliminary view, thought that the complaint may have credit.

Hardy said that the President of the Bar had suggested that he bring the matter up during court proceedings.

He also said that lawyer, Mr. Julian Hall, had offered him his legal expertise in this case free of charge, but could not represent Hardy, because just like Mr. Froomkin, he too knew too much about the background.

The case was marked with a number of objections, because Hardy, in attempting to argue his case, self-admittedly was unable to follow general court procedure. He apologised repeatedly for his lack of legal training, prompting the Puisne Judge to remark that the court had been extremely lenient with him.