Beijing, Jan 17 (IANS): A Chinese man was sent to 10 months in prison and fined for blackmailing a restaurant owner to the tune of 5,500 yuan after finding a strand of hair in his food.
A court ruled Thursday that the 35-year-old man be detained and fined 4,000 yuan for the crime.
In 2012, the man demanded compensation of 8,000 yuan after he found a hair strand in a dish served at a small restaurant where he dined with his three friends in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, Shanghai Daily reported Friday.
The owner apologised and offered to cancel the bill for the meal which amounted to 200 yuan.
But the man threatened to destroy the restaurant if his demand was not met.
Afraid of having the restaurant damaged, the owner paid 5,500 yuan after negotiating and after borrowing 4,000 yuan.
The restaurant owner later called police after the man and his friends left.