Two men accused of illegally importing gaming machines on the Niobe Corinthian casino ship face a continuation of their lengthy trial after a magistrate refused to dismiss the charges.

Fermin Alfonso Reyes, 29, the Panamanian captain of the ship, and George Kezas, 72, said by prosecutors to be its managing director, deny any wrongdoing.

The trial, before Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo, has been adjourned several times since it began last September.

Mr. Tokunbo has heard prosecution witnesses tell how Police raided the vessel and seized 100 slot machines while it was moored at Marginal Wharf, St. David’s, on August 11 2006. Reyes was arrested that day, with Kezas detained two days later after Police searched his home in Lily Park Lane, St. George’s.

Following the close of evidence for the crown last month, defence lawyers Elizabeth Christopher and Kevin Bean, who represent Reyes and Kezas respectively, asked for the case to be dismissed.

However, Mr. Tokunbo ruled that the trial should continue. The defence case will kick off when it resumes on May 17.