Now don't laugh, this is a serious story.

A court in Macedonia has ordered the government to pay a $3,500 fine to a local bee-keeper over a bear that had been stealing his honey.

The beekeeper took the bear to court in Macedonia after spending a year trying to protect his bees and their honey from the hungry beast. The sweet-toothed bear didn't show up at court, but he was still found guilty of theft and criminal damage.

Since the bear was obviously unable to pay damages, is a protected species and has no owner, the state has to pay $3,500 for the damage to the owner Zoran Kiseloski. So, after the year-long case of the bear vs the beekeeper ended in the beekeeper's favour.

Kiseloski explained to the media: