Michael Melville pleaded not guilty to a fraudulent conversion charge when Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson read it to him.
He denied that on May 18, he converted to his own use and benefit a motor car valued $1.2M that he was entrusted with by Marcell Luke in order that he may use and return the vehicle to the virtual complainant.
However, Melville stated that Luke had leased the car to him for over four months so he could operate it as a taxi. He said that at the end of the week he would give Luke $20,000.
He said that a few weeks ago he had an appointment in Mahdia for four days so he left the car with another man. He said that he also borrowed a quantity of cash from the same person.
He said further that he tried to return to the city as soon as possible but he got delayed in Mahdia because his business there was not completed.
He said that this may have caused Luke to make a report at the police station that he had converted the car to his own uses.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor Munilall Seetaram stated that Melville had asked Luke for the registration documents for the car so that he could sell it. He noted that Melville attempted to do just that.
Melville, however, interjected that he had asked for the registration documents because he wanted to purchase a motor vehicle licence. He also stated that he had been in police custody since last Tuesday.
He was later remanded to prison and is scheduled to return to court on July 29.
