A former Bookie has been put behind bars after refusing to testify at the trial for 5 alleged mob bosses on Monday.

The former bookie, who is 71 years old, when asked if he ever paid protection money to one of the 5 defendants would only answer "I respectfully refuse to testify"

The judge gave the man a warning saying that anything he said on the stand would not be held against him because he had received immunity from the prosecutor, and that if he did not answer the question he would be held in Contempt of Court and locked behind bars.

When the man again refused to answer the question about paying one of the defendants extortion money the judge had the man removed from the court and locked up until he answers the question or the end of the trial, which is expected to take several months.

The 5 defendants are being charged with 18 murders, illegal gambling, extortion and loan sharking.

After the man was removed from the court the judge asked him if his refusal to testify was because of a threat on his life or the lives of his family members. The man said he was sorry but despite the immunity from prosecution agreement he would not answer any of these questions.

This would not be the first time the defendants have used violence or the threat of violence to stop someone from testifying against them.

In 1974 one of the defendants allegedly killed a business man who was supposed to testify against them.