KINGSTON, Jamaica — Five men who helped themselves to fuel after the pump at a gas station in Kingston was mistakenly left running, were each fined $25,000 in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court Friday.

The men — Richard Nembhard, Damian Johnson, Andre Hepburn, Wayne Thomas and Thomas Edwards — all of Kingston addresses, pleaded guilty to simple larceny when they appeared in court before Magistrate Georgianna Fraser.

The court heard that the pump was left on overnight at the Shell Gas Station on Mannings Hill Road and several persons went there and took gas. The five men were later arrested and charged following investigations.

On Friday when the men showed up in court, Fraser was told that the gas loss amounted to $287,000 but the men explained that they each took on average $4000 worth of gas.

Each told the court that they had come to court with $10,000, which they all paid over to the court, except for Edwards, who paid $15,000.

Meanwhile Nembhard, who seemed to be objecting to the sum, told the court that the police have more persons to charge, but the judge reminded him of the amount of gas that was lost. The police, however, confirmed that there were other persons to be charged.

The men were then given until October 1 to pay the remainder of the fine, and their bails were extended.