A man allegedly guilty of breaching Bermuda's anti-gambling laws by importing 100 gaming machines on the Niobe Corinthian casino ship has denied any wrongdoing.

George Kezas, 72, told Magistrates' Court his description as managing director of the ship was a title only, and in reality his job was public relations and planning entertainment on board the vessel.

When Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney put it to him that he was instrumental in bringing the ship in last summer, he replied: "I had nothing to do with it coming to Bermuda."

Kezas, of Lily Park Lane, St. George's, told the court he was away in California at the time and only became aware the vessel was en-route when he got an email from his wife.

Mr. Mahoney put it to him: "Having now been caught red-handed, so to speak, you are now trying to lie that you didn't know anything about the vessel coming to Bermuda."

Kezas responded: "Oh no, I'm not lying. I'm definitely not lying. I'm under oath."

Police raided the Niobe CorinthiaI>when it was moored at Marginal Wharf, St. David's on August 11 2006 and seized 100 slot machines, the trial has previously heard. The ship's Panamanian captain, Fermin Alfonso Reyes, 30, was arrested that day and is a co-defendant along with Kezas on the importation charge. Kezas was detained two days later.

Quizzed yesterday about a letter sent in 2005 setting out plans for the ship. Kezas confirmed the plan was to use it for gaming, a buffet and parties, operating from Marginal Wharf twice daily, with a target market of Bermudians and foreigners.

Naming Estrellas Management BVI as the owners of the ship, he told Mr. Mahoney the gaming machines found by Police were only intended for use in international waters — not to breach Bermuda's anti-gambling laws. He also told Mr. Mahoney that while aware it is illegal to gamble in Bermuda, he did not know it is illegal to import gaming machines as "I was not involved with any of that."

Kezas was quizzed by the prosecutor about an insurance document for the ship dated March 14 2006 that had a clause saying there was no indemnity against gambling losses by any passenger on board. It also said the ship was covered to travel from Antigua to Bermuda and then on daily voyages "not exceeding 12 nautical miles from port" in Bermuda — the point where international waters begin.

Mr. Mahoney asked Kezas if it was his intention for the vessel to be in breach of insurance by going further than 12 nautical miles from Bermuda. He replied that the document was simply a proposal and did not represent a policy that ever came into effect. In answer to questions from his own lawyer, Kevin Bean, he said he was not involved in negotiating the terms of the policy.

The trial has been adjourned numerous times since it began last September. It has previously heard both Mr. Bean, and Reyes' lawyer Elizabeth Christopher, argue that the machines were never intended to leave the ship, or to be used in Bermuda or its territorial waters.

The case continues.