Accused must place pounds 15,000.

A BUSINESSMAN has been told to hand over pounds 15,000 to his son before the boy is allowed to leave the UK while facing trial.

Student Hassan Imram, 18, is on bail and due to go before a jury at Cardiff Crown Court next month accused of assaulting two women last year.

But he wants to leave South Wales to fly to Pakistan to visit a sick grandmother, the court heard yesterday.

Barrister Jeff Jones said tickets had been provisionally booked for Imram and his mother to make a two-week trip from Thursday.

His father, Mohammed Imram, understood to run a computer business in Cardiff, was told to give his son the pounds 15,000 and for him to lodge it with the court until he returns to face the jury.

Hassan Imram has denied five charges of assaulting two women by beating them and one count of wounding one of them with intent on November 9. He is presently bailed to live with his parents at Page Drive, Pengam Green, Cardiff, where he has to observe a night time curfew.