A man was fined $40,000 in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday for using a board to hit his uncle all over his body, resulting in a broken hand and leg.

When the matter was called up in court, it was revealed that the dispute was because of a missing pair of slippers belonging to the uncle.

Charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm is Kemoy Sawyers.

He pleaded guilty and offered the court an explanation.

He said: "Your Honour, him (uncle) say my stepson took up his slippers from the veranda. After that I saw my sister, who is disabled, crying, saying that my uncle used a mop stick to hit her."

The court heard that Sawyers went to his uncle's room where an argument developed.

"I asked him why he hit her and he started to argue. I push him and him drop in the kitchen, and he went for his cutlass. I went for a pallet board, and hit him on his hand and foot," Sawyers said.

Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey then fined Sawyers $40,000 or six months' imprisonment.

A fingerprint order was also made.

- A.W.