The Premier has been accused of allowing "personal animus" to "cloud his judgement" regarding the gambling ship which was raided on Friday.

The statement was made by Julian Hall, a former PLP MP, last night regarding the arrest of the Nio Be Corinthian's Captain and the seizure of a variety of items from the ship. Mr. Hall is currently a legal consultant for Corinthian Ltd, the Bermudian licensee company for the ship. The ship is fitted with gaming machines and gambling equipment.

Meanwhile the Captain of the Nio Be Corinthian remains behind bars and the future of the remaining crew members is uncertain because their permission to stay on the Island, "in transit", expires today. A Bermudian resident has also been arrested in connection with the gambling ship.

On Friday Police and HMS Customs agents removed numerous gaming machines, computers and documents from the 196-foot luxury ship. The Captain, who is believed to be a Panamanian national, was arrested for suspicion of importing machines contrary to the Prohibition of Gaming Machines Act 2001.

Mr. Hall said the Government has acted "dictatorial" and stated that their behaviour was "unlawful" and said the owners planned to sue the Government. In particular Mr. Hall criticised the Premier, Alex Scott

"This is vindictive behaviour not of a type expected by politicians let alone the Premier," he said. "This is purely personal on his part. He is allowing his personal animus against the people he believes are behind this to cloud his judgement. He is encouraging others to break the law.

"The Government is blatantly breaking the law, there can be no allegations of importing gaming machines because the legislation says that importation means with the intent of using them for monetary gains."

The law states the ban on importation of gaming machines and equipment does not apply to passenger ships in transit. The Royal Gazette was unable to clarify if the Nio be Corinthian is considered a passenger ship.

Neither the Premier, nor the Director of Communications, Beverle Lottimore, responded to questions about the allegations yesterday.

Mr. Hall said it was made clear to Bermudian authorities prior to the ship's arrival that the gaming machines would not be used in Bermuda. He stated that Collector of Custom's classified the ship as a "pleasure craft" when it arrived in Bermuda and said it was "in transit".

Customs agents sealed the machines, which were bolted to the ship four years ago, and returned the following week to ensure the seals had not been removed. He added that the owners' did not object to the machines being sealed and agreed that they should remain on till the ship departed Bermuda. He stated that the seals remained on until Police came to seize them.

"No laws have been broken," he reiterated.

Mr. Hall is also concerned about the Bermuda Police Service's actions regarding the Captain. He stated that after the Captain was arrested and taken to the Hamilton Police Station his lawyer was not allowed access to him.

"The Police refused to allow lawyers sent to the ship's Captain by the owners to represent him while in custody," he said. "They have taken an unprecedented step of choosing a lawyer for the ship's captain in the obvious hope that that lawyer will encourage the ship's captain to plead "guilty" to offences which he has not committed."

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman had no comment about the allegations.

The Permanent Secretary to Home Affairs did not respond to queries from The Royal Gazette last night.

Mr. Hall said that these actions coupled with Police arresting an employee of Corinthian Ltd, who is a Bermudian resident, and seizing his personal items during a raid can only be described as "the unlawful actions of a budding police state". He would not reveal the name of the second man arrested.

Lawyer Llewellyn Peniston said the Government was using it as "political fodder" in an attempt to "gain the moral high ground" last year when the Premier touted the departure of the ship as a victory. Mr. Peniston was acting as legal counsel for the owners Estrellas Management (BVI) Ltd at the time.

There is much history between the ship and Government since it first arrived in March 2005, Mr. Hall said. It was ordered to dry dock for a number of months because authorities discovered the ship had not adhered to "obscure and long-forgotten maritime legislation", he said. He added that the owners viewed the antiquated legislation as "a smokescreen used by the Bermudian Government to justify their unlawful seizure of the vessel in an attempt to financially cripple those who have invested in it". The Government also attempted to raid the ship in October of last year but could not complete it because Mr. Peniston obtained a Supreme Court injunction ordering them off.

When the vessel first arrived in March of last year it was scheduled to be a casino. According to controversial plans, gamblers would be able to use the casino once the vessel sailed off the Island's shore into international waters, 12 miles off of Bermuda. It would operate in the same way as cruise ships, which close their casino when approaching Bermuda.

Little has been said about the ship's future in Bermuda, though it recently was operating off of Antigua. The ship arrived in Bermuda on July 24 of this year and requested permission to stay for 21 days. Permission was granted and the ship and crew were given the necessary documentation to allow them to birth at Marginal Wharf, St. David's Island. That permission expires today.

Mr. Hall said he did not know what to expect regarding the remaining crew. He said he did not know if the crew would be arrested for staying after their immigration permits expired. He did say that the owners and licensees were determined to protect everyone that works for the company. A crew member at the ship yesterday said no one is certain about what will happen.