A DEPORTEE charged with refusing to pay the taxi fare from Port of Spain to San Fernando, yesterday caused a stir in the courtroom after he was denied bail.

Jason John, 29, was remanded in prison custody for seven days by Traffic Court Magistrate Rehanna Hosein.

Police prosecutor Hubert Skelly objected to granting bail after John hesitated when asked about his address.

Skelly said he would be a flight risk.

John, who spoke with an American accent, had paused before saying he was from Gasparillo. He told the court he was not guilty of the offence and ready to begin the case.

But with the taxi driver, a witness for the prosecution, absent from court, Hosein adjourned the matter and remanded John in custody.

John protested and the magistrate warned him of his tone. John will be brought back to court next week Tuesday.

It is alleged that on Sunday, John boarded a taxi from Port of Spain to San Fernando but when he reached his destination, he allegedly refused to pay the $15 fare. The taxi-driver drove him to the Gasparillo Police Station.

John was charged by constable Khelli Hosein under the Motor Vehicle Road Traffic Act.