A South Carolina man got slapped in the face with a $525 federal fine for the most ridiculous reason in the world.

He was working construction at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, S.C., when he took his lunch and went to the cafeteria and refilled his soda. Well, apparently that was the wrong decision on his part.

He needed to pay 89 cents for the refill, but didn't see the sign saying so. A cop saw him do it and wrote him a citation for stealing, television station WIST reported.

The man was escorted off the premises, and is no longer allowed there. Therefore, he lost his job.

Well, that just sucks!

Others thought that sucked, too. Because of an outcry over the ridiculous penalty, he has now been given a warning instead of the fine, WIST reported.

"In reviewing the case, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center has determined a warning in lieu of a citation is sufficient in this case," the VA said in a statement issued Thursday.

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