yesterday offered bail of $50,000 by a judge in Atlanta.

But Wolde Place and Austin Simons were both remanded in custody pending someone coming up with the cash and ordered to appear again at Fulton County Magistrates' Court next week.

According to legal experts in the Georgia city, the two -- who face at least ten years in jail if convicted -- will have to come up with ten percent of the bail set.

But they added that, as the two are foreigners, US bail bond companies might be reluctant to underwrite the bail at normal US condititons.

Place and Simons, together with co-accused Neal Daniel, from the US Virgin Islands, appeared in front of Judge Craig Schwall.

Daniel's attorney, however, was not present so the case was adjourned until a later date.

Former schoolboy soccer star Place, whose family lives in Pembroke, is accused of armed robbery, carjacking and aggravated assault.

He also faces charges of possession of a firearm in commission of a robbery, pointing a gun at another and possession of marijuana.

Simons, 20, faces three counts -- armed robbery, carjacking and possession of marijuana.

Place, a computing student at Atlanta Metro College, is an International Business Education Award winner and a former pupil of Saltus Grammar School and the Berkeley Institute.

It is alleged the three forced Atlanta student Fraanje Vandiver from his car at gunpoint when it was stopped at traffic lights near Georgia Institute of Technology on December 13.

Mr. Vandiver told Police three men ordered him out of the car, made him lie on the ground and that his wallet and keys stolen.

When a car passed by, Mr. Vandiver made a break and two shots were fired, although no-one was hurt.

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