MOSCOW, April 12 - RAPSI. Towing a car is not theft unless the vehicle was to be used for personal benefit, the Supreme Court explained in its judicial practice review for the second half of 2012.

The clarification referred to the Tula Regional Court's ruling dated Oct. 15, 2010.

A transport company employee was found guilty of towing an individual's car after he took his parking space. A lower court qualified his actions as the "unlawful seizure of a vehicle with no intention of theft." The regional court later upheld the ruling. However, the judicial panel overturned the conviction while reviewing the appeal.

The court stated that a conviction cannot be brought on the basis of assumptions, adding that the conclusion that the individual had illegally seized and then rode in the vehicle was not grounded in the facts.

The suspect said in court that he tried to tow the vehicle, which belonged to a rival company, because it was occupying the parking space where he usually dropped off and picked up his passengers, and thus interrupted his business operations.

He did not actually drive the other car, but rather towed it from the spot by rope. Thus, he did not break into the car and did not plan to drive the vehicle. Therefore, his actions were not criminal. The higher court also ruled to clear his record.