The Premier and Acting Commissioner of Police joined yesterday in condemning leaks of Police investigations into allegations of corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

Roseanda Young said a senior officer has been assigned to investigate the theft of top-secret files on the scandal, and how extracts appeared on ZBM television news and yesterday's Mid-Ocean News. Speaking out later in a national television broadcast, Dr. Brown labelled the Mid-Ocean reports defamatory, and said he has taken legal advice over serious allegations made about him.

The Premier made a controversial threat to cut ties with Governor Sir John Vereker over what he alleged was a failure to act in advance of the articles.

And he went on to stress that he was exonerated by the Police investigation of any unlawful behaviour, with no basis found for charges against any member of Government over the allegations either.

Former BHC property officer Terrence Smith was jailed for eight years in 2006 for swindling the organisation out of more than $1.2 million. He currently has an appeal against his conviction pending. No-one else was ever charged with any criminal offence following the Police investigation.

Dr. Brown said: "The publication of material purported to be extracted from confidential official files of a criminal investigation establishes blatant malice in intent, and raises profoundly serious questions about the means by which the newspaper came into possession of documents to which only a limited number officials had access."

He added that he has asked the Attorney General to request a Government House probe into the leak.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Young said: "This appears to be a clear attempt to discredit the (Police) service in the eyes of the public and to embarrass the Government. This conduct rocks the very foundation of what law enforcement are required to do. It is for these reasons that every stone will be turned to establish who, how and why anyone would want to discredit the service and the people of Bermuda in such a vile manner.

"The individual or individuals responsible have totally undermined the otherwise exemplary efforts of the entire investigative team and they will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Never have I seen such a breach in the entire history of the service and I will not stand by and allow this behaviour to go unchallenged. These actions strike at the heart of community confidence in the Bermuda Police Service and I would expect that all those persons who can assist in this investigation will wish to do so. "

Mrs. Young said Police stood by the decisions of the Department of Public Prosecutions over the inquiry. She added that special measures were put in place to secure documentation relating to it "which makes this incident all the more alarming".

Leader of the Opposition Michael Dunkley, who condemned Dr. Brown for his words toward the Governor, said of the overall topic: "I am pleased that the Premier took to the airways to comment on the newspaper report about the investigation into corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation. I can understand his anger."

He said allegations as carried in the newspaper were "not good for the country's reputation" claiming they "call into question the practice of good governance in Bermuda and endanger our reputation as a first world jurisdiction."

Mr. Dunkley called for Dr. Brown to initiate "a full-blown independent investigation" covering what he termed "the entire Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal" along with the allegations in The Mid-Ocean News.