Son jailed for slow pace of compensating father

A son was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday for failure to produce money for compensation.

Oswald Robinson was charged with simple larceny against the complainant, his father. On February 23, Robinson was ordered to compensate his father $40,000 in two instalments of $20,000. The court heard that on his previous appearances to the court to begin payment, he carried less than what was agreed. On March 10, he did not carry any money, and on March 23, he paid $5,000 to the complainant.

Senior Parish Court Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague was appalled when she heard that Robinson had only carried $5,000 to court yesterday for compensation.

"On the last occasion, the father, I think, had indicated that both of them had spoken outside of court and he was prepared to give his son some more time. I'm not going to interrupt anybody domestic arrangements. Sir, your son has $5,000 today, how do you feel about that?" she asked the complainant.

He said he was not pleased with the fact that his son did not have the funds for compensation but said that he would be willing to give him additional time to acquire the money.

"Do you think he can do better than the $5,000?" Cole-Montague asked. The complainant told the judge that his son could have more money if he put in additional effort, but he noted that his son was unemployed and it would not be possible.

"You don't have to accept that money today. If you want me to appeal judicial pressure, I have no problem in doing that. You want me 'put pressure on the thing' as they would say?" the judge said.

Cole-Montague remanded Robinson for appearing on each court date without the agreed money for compensation. She explained that she has found that persons have been able to acquire the money if they are made aware of the possibility of spending time in jail. "I am going to give you the sufficient motivation," she said.

Robinson pleaded with the judge for more time and promised to have the money available when he returns to court today.

- T.T.