Air Conditioning technician Pascal Smith was remanded to prison yesterday on a robbery charge after a court heard that he used a knife to rob a friend in what they both described as a joke.
However, Magistrate Judy Latchman was not amused and upheld a request by a police prosecutor for Smith to be denied bail.
Smith was charged with robbing Sabaidee Khan of a $140,000 and $200 cash while armed with a knife on February 23, at Pike Street, Kitty.
Smith denied the charge and went on to tell the court that he was just playing a joke with Khan, who is a friend.
He added that Khan was willing to drop the case. Khan, who was present, verified the claim, telling Magistrate Latchman that he no longer wished to proceed with the matter.
Nevertheless, the prosecutor objected to bail based on the fact that a knife was used.
Smith was then remanded to prison until March 20.
