ST JAMES, Jamaica — After purchasing a water pump that had been reported stolen from a farmer in Spot Valley, St Janmes, Alwayne Brown ended up in the St James Parish Court answering to a charge of receiving stolen property.

The Barrett Town resident was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 with two sureties when he appeared before presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley on Wednesday.

According to court files, on May 3, Brown was seen in the Spot Valley community with a water pump that had been reported as stolen from the complainant’s farm. When confronted by the police, he reportedly said, “I saw a man stealing the pump and I told him that I could get a buyer for it.”

Brown was subsequently arrested and charged.

“What were you doing with the man’s pump?” Smith-Ashley asked Brown, following the reading of the allegations.

“I was going to work when I saw a man with the pump, and he said he was looking for somebody to buy it. So I said that I would give him $10,000 for it,” Brown explained.

“Even though you knew it was not his?” Judge Smith-Ashley asked.

“I did not know,” Brown firmly stated.

In the meantime, the complainant told the court that he wanted the case to be tried because he had lost a significant amount of crops as a result of the pump being stolen.

The case was temporarily adjourned to allow for mediation between the parties, after which the court was informed that a settlement had been reached and an initial payment is expected to be made by the next court date.

As part of his $200,000 bail condition, Brown is required to report to the police twice weekly.

The case will be heard again in court on August 9.