The owner of an auto-import company was dragged to court after allegedly receiving nearly $3 million in total from two clients to purchase vehicles, but failing to honour the agreements.

Ricardo Malcom, the owner of SJG Auto Import, is charged with two counts of non-delivery of goods on contracted date and one count of fraudulent conversion.

The Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court was told that on June 15, 2021, the first of the two complainants transferred $2.3 million to Malcolm’s bank account to purchase a 2013 Toyota Hilux on his behalf. However, Malcolm did not hold up his end of the contract and despite calling Malcolm numerous times, the complainant was left with no response.

For the other matter, it was revealed that on June 13, 2022, the complainant gave Malcolm $670,000 for him to purchase a 2015 Toyota Fielder. However, the complainant did not receive the vehicle.

During the proceedings, defence attorney CJ Mitchell told Senior Parish Judge, Lori-Ann Cole-Montague, that the $670,000 has since been reimbursed.

However, the prosecution then requested that Malcolm’s bail be revoked, as he was on bail for a similar matter set for trial when he was charged for these offences.

“There might be some slight truth to this,” Mitchell responded.

After hearing this, the judge said, “It looks very brazen for a defendant to be before the court and charged for fraudulent conversion and while on bail proceeds to commit other offences. That is tantamount to a mockery of the court system.

“I am very concerned. I am of the view that he is not fit based on what I am hearing. These are the things that make people say ‘but the court a poppyshow,’” she continued.

To this, Mitchell said, “It is not always the case where there is an absence of money there is a criminal intent.”

The judge ultimately decided to remand Malcolm until Friday. A fingerprint order was also made for him.