Police fear more "sensitive" information could emerge from an allegedly stolen dossier on allegations of corruption at a Government quango after a court heard the original has gone missing.

In a statement to Supreme Court, Police Commissioner George Jackson said copies of documents surrounding the Bermuda Housing Corporation probe have been recovered, but the whereabouts of the master copy is unknown.

He and Attorney General Philip Perinchief are attempting to gag the media from carrying further contents of the documents in the aftermath of reports on ZBM and in the Mid-Ocean News.

Their lawyer, Delroy Duncan, told Chief Justice Richard Ground yesterday the action is being taken "for fear of further disclosure of sensitive materials" and alleged that the report was stolen and a breach of confidence committed.

The court heard from Mr. Duncan that an international investigation has been launched into how the documents went missing and where copies were made. These have been sent abroad for forensic tests.

Mr. Jackson's statement gave details of which Police officers had access to the file, although these were not read out in open court.

The leaked documents reportedly revealed that Dr. Brown, former Premier Jennifer Smith and former Ministers Renee Webb and Arthur Hodgson were all investigated by Police looking into the BHC allegations. Construction boss Zane DeSilva was another prominent person investigated.

Mr. Duncan acknowledged that the press could not be banned from repeating allegations already made. His submission that the Police fear more could be published caused Mr. Justice Ground to say he was having difficulty "because I don't know what that information is." Mr. Duncan said he could provide details in private about the "unused material" from the dossier.

Mr. Justice Ground told the court the reason the hearing was scheduled for yesterday and today was because the Mid-Ocean News publishes tomorrow. He asked Mr. Froomkin if he hoped for a decision today, with Mr. Froomkin expressing a hope that this would be the case, commenting: "Justice delayed is justice denied".