KINGSTON, Jamaica — A young man had all charges against him dropped after settling with a car rental company in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

The accused, who resides overseas, was charged with simple larceny after keeping a rental car past the return date without notifying the owners.

The man’s attorney explained that when the accused arrived in Jamaica and rented the vehicle, he had issues with the cell phone number he had quoted to the rental company.

Upon realising he would have to extend his stay for two weeks, he continued to drive the car with the intent, his attorney said, to repay any outstanding fees.

The car was reported stolen and the man was arrested for simple larceny during a police spot check.

Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell took issue with the man’s approach, indicating that had he been mannerly enough to use another phone to call the rental company or even drive to the depot to inform them that the case could have been avoided.

He, however, repaid the outstanding fees in court, a total of US$2971 (J$386,000) and the charges were dropped.

— Dana Malcolm