A Cameroonian man went down on his knees begging to change his plea after he denied conspiring with others to defraud persons through a scam known as “black money”.

Joseph Mukan Askh, 33, was remanded in custody but minutes after his arraignment turned back into the courtroom and said he had changed his mind and wanted to plead guilty.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit told him it was too late as the case had already been deferred and that, if he liked, he could plead guilty when the case was heard by a different magistrate.

Sources said the man was arrested on Saturday following a long investigation launched when several people reported being given fake banknotes.

The scam usually involves people tricking their victims into thinking that cash could be duplicated when a black piece of paper is washed with a special chemical.