South African jailed for snake attack

A South African who let loose five deadly snakes in the lobby of a leading bank has been sentenced to an effective one year in jail, the public broadcaster reported.

Abel Manamela set loose five puff adders at the headquarters of ABSA bank in Johannesburg on January 29 last year because he said the bank had refused to return his repossessed car although he had updated his monthly repayments after falling behind.

The Johannesburg Magistrate's Court sentenced Manamela to three years' imprisonment, two of which were suspended, after he was found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, SABC radio news reported.

During the incident, an official from a cleaning company was bitten on the finger by one of the puff adders, which are extremely venomous and can cause death. The man survived but had to undergo surgery.