Theft of public property and differing punishments
Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 271
٢٧١. رُوِيَ أَنَّهُ (عليه السلام) رُفِعَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلَانِ سَرَقَا مِنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ، أَحَدُهُمَا عَبْدٌ مِنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ، وَالْآخَرُ مِنْ عُرُوضِ النَّاسِ.
271. It is related that two persons were brought to Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him. They had committed theft of public property. One of them was a slave purchased from public money and the other had been purchased by someone among the people.