Corporation of St. George's $8,000 yesterday in Magistrates' Court.

Corporation secretary, Nancy Hooper, pleaded guilty on behalf of the Corporation to polluting the waters of Bermuda on October 15,1999.

Magistrate Edward King said: "This is what the lawyers call a strict liability offence.

"It was an accident but it happened and sorry does not make it right.

"The law says thou shall not pollute the waters of Bermuda.

"This is not a case where a stranger or a vandal caused it -- that would be different.'' Mr. King noted that the maximum conviction for such a crime was $10,000 before handing down a fine of $8,000.

"Firm, but fair,'' he said.

Details of the offence were not read out in court yesterday.

But The Royal Gazette understands from legal sources that Marine Police on duty at Ordnance Island received complaints from tourists that a foul smell was coming from the water at Market Wharf, St. George's, on October 15, 1999.

Upon investigation of the area, Marine Police Officers detected the smell of faeces and noticed Corporation of St. George's staff working around the sewage holding tank on Market Wharf.

An officer noted that a pump discharge hose was in the water off Market Wharf and was dripping a brown coloured liquid.

The hose was found to be connected to a pump in the Corporation of St.

George's sewage compound.

Police questioned the Corporation supervisor, Allan Douglas.

Marine police told Mr. Douglas to discontinue pumping and that enquiries would be made about which offences were being committed.

Marine Police went to the Corporation of St. George's offices on November 19,1999 and spoke to Ms Hooper, and Mr. Douglas.

They were told they had violated section 34 of the Water Resources Act, 1975 by polluting or fouling public water.

ENVIRONMENT ENV