Tashieka Mair, Star Writer
western bureau
A Grenadian-born St. James businessman accused of defrauding another businessman of $1.3 million was on Tuesday granted bail in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.
The 52-year-old Martin John, a building contractor of a Bogue Village address, pleaded not guilty to fraud.
He was ordered by RM Winsome Henry to surrender his travel documents and a stop order was imposed as conditions of his $200,000 bail. He is also expected to report to the Montego Freeport Police Station on Fridays.
The prosecution is alleging that the complainant paid John $1.3 million on January 14 to purchase Brazilian tiles. It is said that the accused allegedly told the complainant that he would deliver in a week.
However, even after three weeks the tiles were not delivered and the complainant subsequently told Mr. John that he wanted the tiles or a refund.
No funds
The court heard that on January 31, John gave the complainant a cheque for $1.3million but enquiries made at the bank revealed that there were no funds in the account to cover the cheque.
John allegedly gave the complainant another cheque on February 2 but there was still no money in the account to cover the cheque. The matter was later reported to the police and on February 8 when John was accosted he allegedly told the police under caution that he would repay the money.
According to his attorney, Albert Morgan, his client who holds a master's degree in architectural design from Oxford University, did order the roofing tiles for the complainant, who later told him that he needed green tiles. He said that the complainant requested his money after John told him that he had ordered natural tiles.
The lawyer told the court that his client was in the process of making arrangements to return the money when he was arrested. John is scheduled to return to court on March 10.
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to