Premier Alex Scott has asked to see the controversial 2002 Auditor General?s report into the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) and could have a copy of it as early as today.

Governor Sir John Vereker yesterday told that he has responded to a request by the Premier to ensure he sees the report. ?I would imagine he will do so in the next few days,? Sir John said.

Auditor General Larry Dennis said not only would he be sending a copy of the report to the Premier, but he would also send a copy of the 13 recommendations he made to BHC general manager Raymonde Dill in 2002. The recommendations are separate from the Auditor General?s report.

Mr. Dennis also said he believed a copy of the report, which he sent to former Premier Jennifer Smith, has been at Cabinet since before last year?s General Election.

However, Ms Smith is on the record as saying that she sent the report back to the Auditor General because of the possibility of a criminal investigation.

Last week Mr. Scott told he would have ?no problem? with releasing the report to the public. He could not be contacted yesterday for comment.

The Auditor General?s report, which the Progressive Labour Party Government ordered in 2002 after concerns were raised about the management and control practices at the BHC, sparked off a two-year Police investigation involving Scotland Yard.

Both Police and the Auditor General found examples of misconduct and mismanagement at the BHC, including transactions which occurred between the BHC and members of the House of Assembly and senior Government officials which did not comply with disclosure and conduct standards. Both also found deficient practices and controls relating to the awarding and administration of projects.

Despite exhaustive efforts, however, Police were unable to turn up anything which could be deemed ?criminal? under Bermuda?s century-old laws.

Consultant to the Director of Public Prosecutions Kulandra Ratneser and Police Commissioner Jonathon Smith did agree that it was fair to use the term ?unethical? to describe the goings-on at the BHC, however, although neither actually stated ?what happened was unethical?.

Mr. Ratneser also admitted that the outcome could have been different had the relevant laws been updated over the last century.

With members of the United Bermuda Party Opposition calling for the resignation or termination of all those involved in the so-called unethical transactions, Mr. Scott held a Press conference last week to say that his hands were tied.

Without evidence of criminal goings-on, he said, all that was left was rumour and innuendo, which was not enough to tarnish the reputation of those involved. And without a copy of the Police report, he said, he did not even know who that would be. ?I honestly do not know who this refers to.?

However, Mr. Scott added, no names were made public because there was no evidence of anything illegal. ?Don?t let innuendo and rumour ruin your sense of justice.?

The Premier did say he wishes to act on the recommendations from the report, although it is unclear whether he was speaking about the Auditor General?s report or the Police report into the matter. The Press conference was held to respond to the closure of the Police investigation into the matter. Mr. Scott could not be contacted for clarification yesterday.

The Governor did not confirm whether or not the Premier will be shown the Police report into the BHC scandal, saying only that it was an internal Police document.