By Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St. James man accused of failing to supply $400,000 worth of windows for which he was paid, has been ordered to reimburse the complainant.

The order was made when David Sinclair, charged with fraudulent conversion, appeared for the first time in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday. He has until January 12, when he returns to court, to repay the complainant.

Allegations are that in May the complainant agreed to pay Sinclair $1 million to make and install aluminium windows for his house.

The complainant made a downpayment of $500,000 for Sinclair to buy materials. However, several attempts to contact Mr. Sinclair after that failed. He became suspicious after hearing complaints from other persons.

As a result, he went to Sinclair's workshop in Irwin, St. James where he learnt that he had moved some two weeks before.

The court heard that in October, Sinclair went to the complainant's home and told him that the job would be completed in a week but again did not live up to his word.

On November 25, the complainant saw and confronted him, but Sinclair denied owing him any money. He however later told that the complainant that he had used the money to complete work for another customer. As a result the complainant made a report to the Fraud Squad.

Defence attorney, Jacqueline Minto told RM Winsome Henry that it was the complainant who delayed the project as her client had paid $100,000 for the specific type of glass to make the windows.

However the complainant went to the glass dealer and completed payments for the glass, which he later gave to another person to complete the job.