This maaseh with Chanan being tokea and doing it another time to get rid of his rubbed out dinar, is problematic to me. How can he just get away with brazenly causing more harm to a human being, assuming a cost for it, paying the cost, and that's the end of the story? I can't imagine that any Beis Din would tolerate that sort of behavior, and you'd think there'd be an increased penalty or some editorial comment made here, and it's not. Any thoughts? Sources? Thanks.
Jon, bklyn usa
Dear Jon,
It is true that Beis Din can increase punishment as they see fit (see Choshen Mishpat 2) However the half Zuz penalty is considered a proper punishment. Remember, also the first time he acted brazenly. It seems Beis Din didn't (yet) want to change the regular rule. Ben Yehoyada does comment that he deserves to be called Chanan the Bad because he hit him a second time even though he paid for it.
All the Best,
Reuven Weiner