A BUSINESSMAN was threatened with death and told his body would be put in a suitcase unless he paid $400,000, a court heard yesterday.
Lakshman Bhagchand Melwani, 58, is on trial before Judge Jackson in the District Court. He denies robbing Mr Motilal Jawajarlal Bharwani of a cashier order for $400,000 in a hotel room at Happy Valley on September 29 last year.
Prosecuting counsel Mr Armand Souyave said Mr Bharwani, who dealt in gems, had known Melwani and his father for 25 years.
The Crown alleged that on September 23 last year, Melwani told Mr Bharwani he would introduce him to a buyer from Brazil interested in pearls.
On September 29, Melwani took Mr Bharwani to the Eastin Valley Hotel.
Mr Bharwani was led to a bedroom. Suddenly, a masked man came out of the bathroom and pointed a 22-centimetre knife at him, the Crown alleged.
