The whistleblower who leaked to the media details of a damning police investigation into Government corruption is to stand in the election as an independent.

Businessman Harold Darrell will take on Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Wayne Perinchief in Pembroke Central, which the Progressive Labour Party won by 75 votes last time.

United Bermuda Party is running former drugs counsellor Austin Warner in the seat, which is high on its target list if it is to win back power after nine years in Opposition.

Yesterday, Mr. Darrell, who lives in the area, confirmed he was running in the seat but refused to comment further.

Bermuda has not elected an Independent MP since Stuart Hayward won in the old dual seat of Pembroke West Central in 1989.

And the new seat of Pembroke Central, created in 2003, includes some of that territory. Independent Roger Russell is thought to be running in neighbouring Pembroke West Central, currently held by Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield.

Mr. Hayward, who is unlikely to stand himself, said Mr. Darrell had courage and principles.

He added: "This is an area which has a history of accepting worthwhile independent candidates so both Mr. Darrell's and Mr. Russell's chances may be good.

"I think it's good that independents are getting involved in the game but I don't think the mindset of the electorate is fully accepting of them and parties will do their best to discourage it."

Mr. Darrell was recently revealed by the Mid-Ocean News as the man who exposed the Police findings of a two-year inquiry into corruption at the Bermuda Housing Corporation because "people need to know who they are voting for".

A life-long supporter of the PLP, he said the documents, which run into thousands of pages, contain further suggestions of wrongdoing by public figures and the systematic abuse of the public purse.

Mr. Darrell had said he received death threats from one Government backbencher after it was discovered he was the source of the leak and also confirmed he was the author of the now infamous 'Son of the Soil' letter, widely circulated shortly after the scandal broke, which outlined evidence contained in the Police dossier.

Mr. Darrell, who is currently on police bail pending an inquiry into the alleged theft of the Police files, has not revealed how or when details of the Police probe came into his possession or whether he was prepared to expose further evidence contained in the top secret files.

But he has stated that the revelations already made public show that Premier Ewart Brown is "not a man who can be trusted" and that the current Government has lost touch with the very people it set out to serve.

The Police inquiry was launched at the request of Auditor General Larry Dennis in 2002 following allegations of mismanagement at the Government quango.

But after a two-year investigation by fraud squad officers and Scotland Yard detectives, just one man — BHC officer Terrence Smith — was charged and convicted.

But in June of this year, it was revealed key Government figures including Dr. Brown were investigated. Dr. Brown has said he was exonerated.