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A man reportedly went wild after being denied an opportunity to get a sip of opaque beer resulting in him being arrested for tearing a straw hat worth $45.
The opaque beer could have cost him $1, but he now has to pay $45 to the owner of the hat.
Samuel Nkomo (43) of Old Lobengula was arrested on a malicious damage to property charge after he failed to control his temper when Mandla Lunga (67) refused to drink with him.
He reportedly went berserk and snatched Lungaa��s straw hat before tearing it up.
Lunga was not amused with his behaviour and reported the matter to the police leading to Nkomoa��s arrest.
He was hauled before Western Commonage magistrate Stephen Ndlovu and pleaded guilty to the charges.
The court heard that on 8 August, the complainant was drinking beer with his friend Xolani Tshuma at MaMkhwananzi beer garden.
Nkomo then tried to join them, but they refused to share their opaque beer with him and it didna��t go down well with him.
He then snatched Lungaa��s hat and tore it up before leaving.
Lunga, without wasting anytime, proceeded to the police station and reported the matter leading to Nkomoa��s arrest.
The destroyed straw hat was valued at $45.
Nkomo pleaded guilty to the charges and asked for forgiveness saying that he did not know why he acted in such a manner.
The magistrate, considering that he was a first time offender, slapped him with three months imprisonment which was wholly suspended on condition he pays the complainant an amount of $45 before 31 August.
derick.khumalo