Police officers did business involving illegal pyramid schemes while on duty, it was revealed last night.

Now Police Commissioner Jean-Jacques Lemay has ordered all Police employees, including civilians, to steer clear of pyramid schemes after taking advice from the Attorney General's Chambers.

A Police spokeswoman said: "Mr. Lemay confirms that he has received reports that a number of Police officers are involved in the so-called pyramid schemes and that at least one Police premise was used for the purpose of holding a meeting related to the pyramid scheme.

"Police have also been made aware that one or more Police officers have conducted business related to the scheme during business hours.'' But the spokeswoman added a stiff warning had now been issued to all serving officers and civilian staff.

The statement said: "The Attorney General's Chambers has expressed the view that the pyramid schemes contravene the Lotteries Act 1944 and the Criminal Code of 1905.

"All Police personnel, including civilian staff, will cease and desist forthwith from the promotion, participation or any other such activity in furtherance of such schemes.

"Police officers are expected to uphold the law and conduct themselves in such a way as to avoid any incidences of behaviour or activity which may bring discredit upon the Bermuda Police Service.'' And Mr. Lemay warned that an investigation into pyramid schemes headed by Acting Superintendent Carlton Adams will continue.

The Commissioner ordered a probe after reports that officers as high as Inspector were running some of the schemes.

The Royal Gazette has learned that numerous Police officers were involved and that the schemes were openly touted at Police headquarters in Prospect.

Pyramid schemes A list charting the progression of participants was reportedly hung prominently in at least one office on the Prospect grounds and the Police Recreation Club was used by officers to make formal presentations to people they were trying to rope into the programmes.

The ordered investigation has sparked an Island-wide frenzy as insiders have said thousands of locals are involved.

A secret meeting of several hundred participants took place in the main hall of the Bermuda Industrial Union on Monday night. The crowd met to hear legal advice from prominent lawyer Delroy Duncan.

Attendees at that meeting told the Royal Gazette that Mr. Duncan explained that their "mutual assistance financial plans'' are not pyramid schemes.

Several simple schemes or `boards' sprung up across the Island only a few weeks ago. The three most popular of them saw participants putting down $500, $2,000 or $6,000 with the expectation of reaping $4,000, $16,000 and $48,000 respectively.

To get "on board'' participants usually signed a document stating their initial outlay was a gift for which they expected nothing in return.

Police set up a special Pyramid hotline, on 299-4254, after concern over the get-rich-quick schemes began to mount.

TWO MEN CAUGHT IN THE ACT CTS Two men caught in the act Getting caught in the midst of a tryst on Warwick Long Bay by an off-duty Police officer cost two local men $600 and $400 fines.

Wayne Scott Sims and Michael Robert Trott pleaded guilty yesterday before Senior Magistrate Will Francis to committing an act of gross indecency at 4.30 p.m. on December 9.

Prosecutor Police Sgt. Phill Taylor told Mr. Francis the officer was on the beach with his wife and two-year-old child when he happened upon them in an "act simulating anal intercourse with Trott penetrating Sims''.

Trott was also reading a pornographic magazine.

The cop retreated and called for others who saw a similar scene. When they were confronted, both men tried to run away on the beach's back trails.

Trott, of Wharehouse Lane, Pembroke, was fined $600 and given a three-month prison sentence which was suspended for two years.

Sims, of Mariposa Drive, Southampton, was fined $400 and received a one-month sentence which was suspended for a similar period.