Its not about the crime that is being perpetrated, but to whom it is perpetrated against. It has always been the case in the history of the world. The difference between having your hand or your head chopped off for thievery depends if you stole from a merchant or from a king. Usually kings have the need to discourage others from attempting anything similar in the future, on one hand to fortify their authority and because they have the means to do so. A poor merchant does not have the means himself, he needs to plead the king for restitution.
Its not about the crime that is being perpetrated, but to whom it is perpetrated against. It has always been the case in the history of the world. The difference between having your hand or your head chopped off for thievery depends if you stole from a merchant or from a king. Usually kings have the need to discourage others from attempting anything similar in the future, on one hand to fortify their authority and because they have the means to do so. A poor merchant does not have the means himself, he needs to plead the king for restitution.