Penniless men anger judge

Two men who failed to carry compensation money to court, as was ordered by the judge, were ordered locked up when they appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court empty-handed on Thursday.

In one of the matters, Vasanie Kerr, a 21-year-old man who admitted to stealing more than $530,000 from his girlfriend earlier this year, was expected to hand over $200,000 in restitution but failed to do so.

Kerr, who is in custody, told the judge that he was not able to come up with the money.

"You got paid last week Friday and you don't bring nothing at all? Why you never come with no money?" Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque asked Kerr who has so far paid back just more than $100,000.

Kerr pleaded guilty to two counts of larceny and housebreaking in January. It was reported that the 22-year-old complainant, who is a student at The Mico University College, pursuing a bachelor of education degree in primary education, entrusted Kerr with $200,000 to pay her tuition. However, he took half the money for himself.

The court heard that Kerr also broke into the complainant's home and stole $435,000.

Kerr's bail was revoked on Tuesday after he came to court empty-handed. The judge gave him until Thursday to come up with the $200,000, but told the judge that his efforts to come up with the money proved futile.

"Your Honour, I reached out to my father but unfortunately he is not able to help. Given the fact that you told me that I must bring $200,000, I wanted to bring all of it. I did have money for somebody who said they would assist me with something, so he was going to use his credit card to give me the money, but he said he owed the bank and in order for him to use his credit card again to assist me, he needs to clear up that debt," Kerr told the judge.

Cole-Montaque was not impressed with his explanation.

"So you prefer to clear up that debt than the court debt?" the judge asked before ordering that he be remanded in custody until May 19.

"A young man who is serious about his case would have come with something. He would have come and say 'Judge, I know its not the amount that you say I must come with, but please accept this and look at this amount as me trying, as a mitigation as me trying'. You are joking," the judge said.

Meanwhile, in a second matter, Shaquan Folkes, who was ordered to bring $80,000 as compensation to his sister who he assaulted following an argument over $2,000, did not bring a dime. He told the court that he did not remember the reason he was before the court or why he was ordered to make compensation.

The judge was not amused.

"You're a man, most dishonest. You are telling me, you pleaded guilty, you are for sentencing, you signed that you will pay money, and you don't remember what you did? Just for the 'dry-eye' dishonesty, you are remanded. Sort out yourself and get some money here," the judge said.

She then revoked Folkes' bail and ordered him locked up until May 10.