KINGSTON, Jamaica — A parish judge on Tuesday could not hide her outrage when she was told that a 52-year-old carpenter took $300,000 for the commission of two kitchen cupboards, which was not delivered or a refund offered to the complainant.

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague was even more incensed when she learnt that the accused man, George Reid, was on bail for a similar matter when this offence was committed.

For this offence, Reid was charged with fraudulent conversion, to which he pleaded guilty, when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

It was alleged that on April 18, the complainant handed over $300,000 to Reid for him to make the cupboards. It was agreed, the court was told, that in May the cupboards will be installed. However, this was not done, and when asked for a refund, no attempts were made by the accused to do so.

“So this is a pattern that has emerged. I don’t know why our tradesmen are like this,” Cole-Montague said.

“Five months after and the man don’t have him money and don’t have him cupboard… you tek people money, give them back them money,” the judge added.

After learning that Reid had no money to give the complainant, the judge said, “We cya operate like this in a this country. Don’t tell me you come with your two long hands.”

When asked how soon he can get the money, Reid said “by next week Tuesday.”

“I’m going to remand you, and looking at you I don’t think you can last until Tuesday,” Cole-Montague said. But she said, “You need something to jolt you.”

His fingerprint order was made, and he was held in custody to return to court next Wednesday.