A tourism department chief conspired with a taxi driver to claim for bogus journeys for non-existent travel agents, it has been claimed in court.

Tourism Director Gary Phillips told Magistrates' Court that, as a result of a conversation he had with a travel agent from US-based Ivory Isles travel agents at a travel seminar in Chicago, he checked on some travel claims.

Mr. Phillips said that he made inquiries and found a purchase order for a taxi tour of the Island in the name of Ivory Isles.

He said: "I checked whether the trip had actually taken place, whether the familiarisation trip had actually happened.'' And he agreed with Crown counsel Phillip Storr that he could find no evidence to support that the trip had ever taken place.

Mr. Phillips told Senior Magistrate Will Francis that he called Horton to a meeting in his office to discuss his findings.

He added: "I put it to him that I had some concerns about this particular invoice and asked that he offer me some explanation, or confirmation, I should say, that the familiarisation visit did indeed take place according to the purchase order.'' Mr. Phillips told the court that his recollection was that Horton agreed to comply with his request -- but later said the trip did not take place.

He added: "I advised Mr. Horton that I would have to report the matter to Secretary to the Cabinet.'' And he confirmed to the court that the former head teacher and New York Cosmos soccer player was suspended from his job in July 1995.

Horton, 51, is jointly charged with taxi driver Weldon Dowling, 49, with conspiring to defraud the Accountant General.

The Crown claims the alleged scam netted the pair a total of $720 but also alleges another $1,140 or $1,240 claimed for was not handed over. The offence is alleged to have taken place between 1993 and 1995.

Horton, of North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish, and Dowling, of Wellington Back Road, St. George's, have both pleaded not guilty.

Under cross-examination from Horton's lawyer Julian Hall, Mr. Phillips agreed that given the numbers of purchase orders a few mistakes would be "within the bounds of statistical error'' -- but the Tourism Director added that "it depends on the nature of the mistake''.

Earlier, Tourism Department manager of sports promotions Wayne Smith, who worked under Horton, identified a document authorising Dowling for a transfer and familiarisation tour using two cars for Ivory Isles Travel.

Mr. Smith told the court the document was dated March 29 last year for March 30 and April 1 and came to approximately $1,100.

And he said the handwriting in the space for the authorised signatory "appears to be Mr. Horton's''.

Under questioning from Mr. Hall, Mr. Smith estimated that Horton's section could have dealt with "around 2,000 requests for travel'' in the period referred to in the charge.

Earlier, Mr. Hall pointed out an inaccuracy in a ZBM report on the case on Tuesday night's news.

Mr. Hall said the TV report said Government had suffered an alleged loss of $3,000 because of the claimed actions of Horton and Dowling.

But Mr. Hall pointed out that the Crown's allegations consist of a loss of no more than $720.

Mr. Hall said: "I am not being critical of the reporter -- I know they have to come and go and may not get the whole picture.'' But he added: "I pause only to correct a mis-statement made on ZBM and I hope it's going to be corrected.'' The trial continues.