KINGSTON, Jamaica – A mechanic is claiming he was unaware that the car parts he removed from an “old vehicle” on behalf of his customer were actually stolen property.

He made his position known in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Monday, before Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague.

Rosario Pinto, who is charged along with Jamuta Daley for simple larceny, pleaded guilty to the offence.

Pinto said that on October 1, he was hired by Daley to remove the distributor and other car parts from the vehicle which belonged to the complainant in the matter. He said he agreed to remove the car parts because Daley indicated that he was given permission from the owner of the vehicle. However, he was shocked after he was arrested and charged for the theft.

According to court documents, police officers were patrolling the Jacks Hill area in St Andrew, when they noticed two men removing parts from a vehicle then driving off. After giving chase, the police officers were able to apprehend the men and they were swiftly charged.

Although it was confirmed that the distributor was returned to the complainant after the accused men were arrested, Daley and Pinto were ordered to make restitution to the man in the sum of $100,000 for the other car parts that were not returned. This was paid over in court.

Defending his action, Daley said he was going to tell the complainant that he took the parts, since the vehicle is old.

“Well, you should not have interfered with an old vehicle that didn’t belong to you, as you put it,” presiding judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague said.

At the same time, responding to Pinto’s claims that he was hired to remove the parts, the judge said, “The work you got was illegal.”

Both men were ultimately ordered to return to court on January 17 for sentencing. Fingerprint orders were also made for them.