A JUDGE yesterday refused to lift travelling restrictions imposed on a man who is charged in connection with a $5 million fraud. Mr Justice Duffy had earlier transferred the trial of Robert Flickinger, 49, ex-director of a currency broking firm, from the High Court to the District Court. Yesterday, Flickinger indicated through his counsel Mr Robert Buchanan that he would plead not guilty to conspiracy to defraud. Flickinger is accused of conspiring between March and August 1987 with David Edwards and Patrick Yip Shing-loong to defraud customers of Currency Brokers (HK) Ltd. Money was paid into the company to buy currency contracts or precious metals, and for insurance against losses on the contracts, it was alleged. Judge Chan said the trial would be heard before Judge Britton on March 29. But Judge Chan refused Mr Buchanan's application to lift the travelling restriction imposed on Flickinger, who was granted bail by the High Court on January 21. Mr Buchanan submitted that his client had no means of support, no right to work and no income in Hongkong. While he was able to find somewhere to live after getting bail it was possible he would have no place to live after today. ''It is only due to charitable donations from acquaintances that the defendant has survived until now,'' said Mr Buchanan. He urged the court to allow his client to leave Hongkong for the United States where he could rejoin his family and get a job. Application for a variation of terms of bail was opposed by prosecutor Mr Simon Westbrook. Mr Westbrook said he expected the trial would last between three and six months, with 81 prosecution witnesses on the list. Mr Buchanan estimated the trial would last between eight and 12 months and said there were 61 defence witnesses.
