Bankrupt barrister Julian Hall could be jailed later this week over complaints that he's not complied with a court order to disclose his finances.

Lawyer Kulandra Ratneser asked a judge on behalf of the Official Receiver that Mr. Hall be found in contempt of court for not answering questions by a set deadline. He further accused him of then providing nothing but unsatisfactory answers.

Citing examples of what he described as "extravagance" on the part of Mr. Hall in the meantime, including $5,300 per month for rent, $2,000 on food and $1,000 on telephone bills, Mr. Ratneser complained: "There is an obligation to pay some money to your creditors. You can't live a champagne lifestyle on a beer economy.

"The only remedy for people like that is they should be locked up until they answer these questions. There's a responsibility of every bankrupt to honour his duties and make some effort to pay something towards his creditors."

Mr. Hall delivered a customarily impassioned speech in his own defence, getting chided by Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves after he told him: "I've had enough of this. I'm ready for whatever Your Lordship wishes to dish out. I'm serious. I mean that with the greatest of respect."

Yesterday's Supreme Court hearing was the latest twist in a nine-year saga since Mr. Hall – a prominent political as well as legal figure – was declared bankrupt.

He currently owes more than $3 million including interest to his creditors. They include elderly widow Betty McMahon, a former client he owes around $1.7 million, the estate of another former employer Charles Vaucrosson, the Government and the Bank of Bermuda.

Mr. Ratneser has complained at previous hearings that Mr. Hall has failed for years to comply with requests from Official Receiver Stephen Lowe, who is administering the bankruptcy, to answer questions about his finances. He has also complained that Mr. Hall has failed to pay back a penny he owes.

Although he is barred from practising as a lawyer because of his bankruptcy, Mr. Hall is currently on a $119,000 per annum contract as a consultant to the Ministry of Works and Engineering.

On August 20 Mr. Justice Greaves made an order that Mr. Hall must answer a questionnaire from the Official Receiver about his finances within 14 days of receipt.

Mr. Ratneser complained yesterday that the deadline of September 3 came and went with no answers. He said Mr. Hall did not make an application for an extension of time, and only provided some unsatisfactory answers on October 28, the day after getting a letter threatening him with contempt proceedings.

Mr. Hall denied that he was in contempt of court, and said he was incredulous at being accused of such. However, he gave his "most sincere and abject apologies to the court" for the delay in submitting responses in time.

He made an application for an extension of time, explaining that the process had taken longer than he anticipated because of the detail of the questions but "these answers are as responsive as I could be".

Mr. Hall has repeatedly accused the Official Receiver of dragging his feet over discharging the bankruptcy, which prevents him practising at the Bar. He claims this means he's stuck in a vicious circle, unable to work as a barrister to pay off his debts.

He has also complained that the case has been "nothing more than a public flogging in slow motion for eight-and-a-half years" by people who wish to persecute him. He said yesterday of Mr. Ratneser and Saul Froomkin QC, who acts for the estate of Mrs. McMahon: "I know enough about this tag team that whatever I provide will never be sufficient for these two."

He went on: "Mr. Ratneser asks about upholding the integrity of the court. It's he who's cocking a snook at the integrity of the court. He's asking something that's bloody-minded and unfair. I know everybody expects me to be crawling around in a corner begging for mercy. I'm sorry if I'm not sufficiently humble, but I'm not made that way."

When he later told the judge he was ready for whatever he dished out, Mr. Justice Greaves warned him "not to walk that path – it's a dangerous one".

The judge said he needed time to consider his ruling, but hoped to deliver it on Friday afternoon.