A corruption charge against former Minister Nelson Bascome was thrown out yesterday.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ruled there was insufficient evidence for Bascome to stand trial over allegations he corruptly obtained a business opportunity during his period as Health and Family Services Minister in the late 1990s.

Prosecutors had claimed Bascome secured public housing for water filtration system inventor Robert Smith between November 1998 and December 1999.

However, Mr. Warner yesterday cast doubt over the reliability of key witness Mr. Smith, who spoke last month at a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the case should go ahead.

"He's given me the impression that he has an axe to grind, remembering only the details he wants to," said Mr. Warner in his preliminary inquiry report. Mr. Warner told Magistrates' Court the prosecution's evidence was "weak and vague" and could not be relied on by a jury.

Pembroke East Central MP Bascome, 52, will go on trial at Magistrates' Court in December on $75,000 theft charges.

He is accused of stealing $56,000 entrusted to him by the Bank of Bermuda for business purposes between September 2003 and February 2004; and $20,000 from the Natural Business Company, of which he was a director, in March 2004. Bascome denies both charges.

Bascome stepped down from his second spell as Health Minister in February when a file on him was passed by Police to the Department of Public Prosecutions. He is on bail.

Approached by The Royal Gazette outside court yesterday, he replied: "Where's your camera today? That's all I'm going to say. You guys make me smile."

Mr. Smith said he was not surprised by the outcome as he had not expected the corruption case to reach a trial. The DPP had not responded to a request for a comment by press time yesterday.

Last night, Mr. Bascome released a comment to the media thanking God and Mr. Warner for the case being dismissed.

He said: "I have always maintained that I have done nothing wrong and it is my hope that this ruling will go some distance toward assisting the public in realizing this. It has always been my position that this prosecution has been driven by pure political motives, and that the Bermuda Housing Corporation matters are brought up to try to embarrass and defame. They have now gone through my entire financial life and can find no wrong".

Mr. Bascome continued: "During the time that these false allegations have been pending, my family and I have endured a great deal of negative press and comment. Whilst Bermuda is having the "Big Conversation", the rumour mill of the small conversation has been rife with innuendo and is of more concern to me in my community."