2,682. Denying Daled and Hei

Hilchos Shevuos 7:16

Less than a prutah is not legally significant, so if someone files a claim for less than a prutah or for goods worth less than a prutah and the defendant denies with an oath, he is exempt for an oath of deposit, though he would be liable for an oath of expression.

Hilchos Shevuos 8:1

Let’s say that someone stole an ox and slaughtered or sold it. The owner filed a claim against him, and the defendant admits to stealing the ox but he denies slaughtering or selling it, supporting his claim with an oath. In such a case, he is exempt because if he admitted to slaughtering or selling it, he would not have been obligated to pay the penalty of four and five times the ox’s value. This is a fine, as will be discussed IY”H in Hilchos Geneiva. Therefore, it’s not a case of denying a monetary obligation, with the result that he’s exempt for violating an oath of deposit. He is, however, liable for violating an oath of expression, because he took an oath that he didn’t slaughter the ox, when he really did.