Dublin was accused of lying to a jury yesterday to cover the fact that he knew he was carrying $96,000 of crack cocaine and cannabis.

Dublin, 20, told the Supreme Court jury that his holdall bag was stolen while he was on holiday in Montego Bay, Jamaica, over the Christmas period last year. He said he found another bag in his room which he used to carry his clothes back to Bermuda, but he did not report his original bag stolen to Police.

However, when he was stopped by Customs at Bermuda International Airport on January 5, he told officers it was his mother's bag.

Dublin, of Glebe Road, Pembroke, denies nine charges of importing, handling, possessing and intending to supply crack cocaine, cannabis, and cannabis resin. Dublin told Juan Wolffe, prosecuting, that he shared a room in Jamaica with a Bermudian called Kent and that a Jamaican called `Quincy' cooked food for them.

Quincy stole from him, however, and brought girls to the room, said Dublin.

Dublin admitted that he made no mention of Quincy when he was arrested on January 5 or when he gave a statement on January 7. The first time he mentioned him was in a statement on February 22.

Mr. Wolffe said: "I am suggesting that this person Quincy may be non-existent.'' Dublin denied this. Mr. Wolffe added: "The only reason you raised the name Quincy was to make it look like he had something to do with this bag.'' Dublin replied: "No, I met him the year before. He drives taxis.'' When Mr.

Wolffe asked him why he took seven weeks to tell Police about Quincy, Dublin said his lawyers had been unable to get an appointment to speak to narcotics officer Sgt. Dennis Brown.

He agreed that his lawyer never mentioned the alleged inability to get an appointment to see Sgt. Brown when the officer appeared before the court on Wednesday.

Mr Wolffe said: "You used these seven weeks to fabricate your story.'' Dublin replied: "No''. Dublin did not report the bag which was allegedly stolen from his room to the guards who were on duty 24 hours a day at his resort. Mr.

Wolffe said: "The reason you didn't ask the guards is because your whole story about your bag being stolen is untrue.'' Dublin denied this.

Dublin said he didn't see the need to buy a new bag because the black holdall he found in his closet looked fine.

The drugs were found concealed in a false bottom in the bag, but Dublin claims he had no knowlege of the drugs.

He admitted that when he was questioned at Bermuda International Airport about the bag, he twice told Customs officer Tanya Quinn that it belonged to his mother.

He further admitted that his lawyer Richard Hector did not dispute Ms Quinn's assertion that Dublin told her the bag belonged to his mother. Earlier, Dublin told Mr. Hector he had travelled to Jamaica on three previous occasions, but he denied any knowledge of the drugs. The trial continues.

Jerome Dublin yesterday