Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

A man, who reportedly collected money from a woman for the sale of a container and failed to supply it, was granted bail for fraud in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

He is Reuben Espeut of Duhaney Park, St Andrew.

When the case was mentioned on Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty.

An attorney-at-law told the court that his client was a businessman and being in custody would affect his business.

He told the court that although Espeut had another similar case in Half-Way Tree, he had never missed court and was a fit candidate for bail.

TWICE weekly

Espeut was subsequently granted $200,000 bail with one or two sureties.

He is to report to the Duhaney Park Police Station twice weekly and return to court on August 20.

Allegations are that in May last year, the complainant, who is a returning resident, was looking for a 20-foot container to buy.

She encountered the accused, who convinced her that he could supply her with a 40-foot container for $160,000.

Having paid over the money and not getting the container, the woman made a report to the police.

An investigation led to Espeut's arrest and charge with fraudulent conversion.