Sacked Bermuda Housing Corporation general manager Raymonde Dill and axed property officer Terrence Smith were at the centre of a civil case yesterday which could see the pair clash in court.

A carpenter was suing Mr. Dill over unpaid work done at the former BHC chief's home in Langton Lane, Devonshire.

However Magistrate Ed King threw out the case and urged Steven Barboza, of Barboza Carpentry, to sue Mr. Smith because he was the one employing him.

The Royal Gazette understands the carpenter will now sue Mr. Smith and could call Mr. Dill to testify against his former colleague.

Mr. Dill and Mr. Smith were sacked in August from BHC following a lengthy investigation into corruption and mismanagement at the government quango and an ongoing Police investigation.

The scandal erupted last year over allegations of massive over-payments to contractors and corruption in the corporation.

BHC documents showed painter Paul Young was paid $810,940 between May and November in 2001 while a carpentry firm was paid $487,193 over the same period while a gardener received $68,564.

During yesterday's proceedings, watched by plain clothes Policemen taking notes, Mr. Barboza said he had put in cedar doors and windows and a Formica kitchen counter top and was paid in cash by Mr. Smith for the work in the summer of 2001.

But he claimed in court that when he made and put in a cedar circular staircase and railings and tiled a porch he was owed $6,802 but was not paid.

The court heard that Mr. Smith and Mr. Dill were no longer in contact with each other and Mr. Smith had urged the builder to go straight to Mr. Dill when he asked for payment.

Mr. Dill, who was representing himself, got Mr. Barboza to admit that he had been hired by someone else do to the work for Mr. Dill.

Asked who was paying for the work Mr. Barboza said: "Terrance gave me the money and he indicated it had come from Mr. Dill."

But Mr. Barboza admitted he had been engaged to do the work by Mr. Smith who was not in court.

Mr. King said he was satisfied that the work was done at Mr. Dill's house but he said Mr. Barboza's testimony had established Mr. Smith had employed him.

He said: "The piper looks for payment from the person who had called the tune."

"There is nothing to stop you going back and suing Smith for the money. You could subpoena Dill to testify."