Corporation of Hamilton Mayor Graeme Outerbridge and his deputy Donal Smith are facing allegations of contempt after allegedly failing to cooperate with an independent investigation into suspected corruption at the municipality.The city’s two highest elected officials appeared at a judicial hearing before Chief Justice Ian Kawaley yesterday afternoon to answer claims that they had repeatedly failed to attend interviews called for by Ombudsman Arlene Brock — and had even issued a last-minute snub to a court summons by the independent watchdog.Ms Brock launched an investigation into the City in March after bosses had signed a 262-year lease with contractors to redevelop the capital. Critics said the billion-dollar scheme was rubber-stamped without public consultation.At yesterday’s hearing, the lawyer representing Ms Brock, Nathaniel Turner, claimed town officials had deliberately obstructed the investigation by failing to show up for interviews requested by the Ombudsman.He acknowledged that the Mayor appeared for two 45-minute interviews in April, but then failed to attend further discussions.Deputy Mayor Mr Smith also agreed to be interviewed but delivered last-minute excuses, it was alleged.And when Ms Brock issued a summons demanding that officials appear before her, Mr Outerbridge again failed to show up - and then sent an eleventh-hour fax claiming that he had the right to legal representation during any hearing.That argument was pushed by lawyers for the Corporation, who acknowledged that, while Corporation bosses had committed a “technical contempt”, Ms Brock’s summons should be called into question because it failed to consider if the respondents were entitled to legal representation.Chief Justice Ian Kawaley said he would circulate his findings at a later date.