after a Sergeant was accused of attacking a young woman officer.

The Royal Gazette has learnt that senior officers in Complaints and Discipline launched a two-year inquiry and lengthy internal trial which finished in October.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Harold Moniz has been given the case evidence but is still considering his verdict -- 30 months after the alleged incident took place.

The investigation was launched when a 22-year-old probationer complained she had been sexually harassed and assaulted by her supervisor in July, 1995.

The accused Sergeant was immediately moved onto a different watch and out of his post in uniform.

He has not been charged with a criminal offence but was charged with discreditable conduct by internal Police chiefs.

He could be dismissed, fined, suspended or stripped of his rank if Complaints and Discipline officers find him guilty.

It is believed to be the first time Bermuda Police has ever held an internal trial for an officer suspected of sexual assault.

One Police insider told The Royal Gazette : "This investigation has taken an inordinate amount of time and both the complainant and the accused officer have been made to wait too long.

"All the evidence has been put to a lengthy internal hearing but everybody is still waiting on a verdict.

"Emotionally, this has really affected the young lady involved. She went through the trauma of the incident and then had to relay it to the investigating officer.

"Then she had to go and give evidence against the man she accused. In fact, there are two victims here now and it's like a comedy of errors.

"I don't believe it's a cover-up but it's certainly a cock-up.'' The accused officer, who is married, faced allegations that he tried to kiss and then rubbed himself against the woman officer in a school play area in Warwick.

The initial inquiry, conducted by a Chief Inspector, was told that the pair went to a private party as friends after coming off the 4 p.m. to midnight shift.

The woman officer said she agreed to drive the Sergeant to his home in Warwick but claimed he directed her into school grounds where the incident is alleged to have taken place at around 1.30 a.m.

She filed a complaint two days later.

The investigation file was handed to former Deputy Commissioner Michael Mylod in March, 1996.

He appointed Insp. Peter Duffy, then head of Police Prosecutions, to bring the internal case against the accused Sergeant, who was represented by Det. Insp.

Legay Farley.

It is understood proceedings were delayed because the suspected officer and Det. Insp. Farley were investigating a number of murders and other serious crimes.

There were more setbacks after Mr. Moniz assumed responsibility for all discipline inquiries in September 1996, when Mr. Mylod retired.

His current rank, Acting Deputy Commissioner, means he is unable to give priority to the discipline hearing.

It is believed a record of the hearing is still lying on Mr. Moniz's desk and a verdict could still be weeks away.

In a statement, a Police spokeswoman said: "The Acting Commissioner, Mr.

Lemay, is aware of this incident and has expressed concern about the undue delay in completing the investigation.

"Mr. Lemay has been in touch with both parties -- the complainant and the defendant -- and will continue to monitor the developments personally.'' Police are also continuing an investigation into sexual harassment claims against a senior Reserve Police officer.