Former Adelaide courier driver admits role in Holden parts racket
Former Adelaide courier driver admits role in Holden parts racket
A former courier driver has admitted his role in the theft of $2.5 million worth of car parts from Holden’s Adelaide plant.
Richard Jorquera, 27, was among seven people arrested in July last year over the disappearance of 140 V8 engines and 174 high-powered transmissions from the Elizabeth plant.
The District Court today heard he would drive his courier van into the Holden plant where an employee would use a forklift to load two engines or two or three transmissions into the back.
Jorquera would then pass them onto another person unrelated to the car maker.
He was paid $30,000 for his crimes.
Today, he admitted stealing 60 V8 engines and 78 transmissions with a total value of up to $700,000.
The court heard Jorquera had not helped plan the scheme and that it had been operating for some time before he became involved.
Jorquera’s lawyer said his client was under enormous financial pressure, that his behavior was out of character and that he is prepared to pay the money back.
Prosecutors argued he should be jailed immediately, but he was remanded on continuing bail.
He will be sentenced later this month.
