AZE.US
A woman who practiced fortune-telling in Azerbaijan’s Gadabay district was accused of taking a total of 1,500 manats from two women after promising to solve a family dispute and cure a child, according to a court report.
One complainant paid 800 manats after the fortune-teller allegedly promised to reconcile her daughter with her husband. The couple later divorced.
The defendant, Ramida Asgarova, born in 1985 and a resident of Tovuz district, was charged with fraud involving two people, Qafqazinfo reported.
Promise to Preserve a Marriage
The first complainant, whose name was changed in the published account, said she learned that Asgarova had arrived in Arysu village in Gadabay district. She sought help because of problems in her daughter’s marriage.
According to the woman’s testimony, Asgarova claimed that the conflict had been caused by “wolf fat” supposedly used against the daughter and promised to help for 800 manats. The complainant said she paid the money in installments.
After the daughter and her husband divorced, the woman concluded that she had been deceived and filed a complaint.
Another 700 Manats for Alleged Treatment
A second complainant, a resident of Duzurd village, approached Asgarova because her daughter was ill. She said medical treatment had not produced the result she hoped for and that she began seeking other help.
The woman testified that Asgarova looked at a photograph of her daughter, promised to cure her within two months and asked for 700 manats.
Asgarova later went to the complainant’s home, where the money was handed over. The complainant said Asgarova retrieved a knotted thread from the yard and claimed that the daughter had been subjected to a curse. When the child’s condition did not improve after an extended period, the woman also said she believed she had been deceived.
Court Ends the Case
Asgarova told the court that she no longer practiced fortune-telling. She said she had fully compensated both complainants and reconciled with them, and statements confirming the reconciliation were submitted to the court.
The Gadabay District Court released Asgarova from criminal liability and closed the proceedings under Article 75.1.1 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, according to the report.
Article 75 governs release from criminal liability when the statute of limitations has expired. The reported legal basis for ending the case was therefore the expiry of that period, although the parties also said the losses had been repaid and they had reconciled.
Originally published in Russian by Vesti Baku.