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Bad fortune telling leads to beating
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-21 10:43
A Hubei Province native was charged yesterday with assaulting his roommate for misreading his fortune.

The roommate, who prosecutors only identified by the surname Xiong, was left blind in his left eye by the beating last July.

Prosecutors said when the suspect, who they only identified by the surname Dai, learned that his roommate was good at fortune telling, he asked for a reading early last year.

Xiong told Dai he would have good luck in June 2005.

Dai was very happy with the news and paid Xiong 200 yuan (US$25).

But when June came, Dai faced bad luck instead of good luck, he told prosecutors.

He had previously purchased a car, but he didn't transfer the ownership or pay all of the necessary fees. So his car was seized temporarily in June and Dai was asked to finish the necessary process, which cost him a lot of money.

Dai said he didn't have any good luck during the entire month.

In July, Dai accused Xiong of misreading his fortune. But Xiong argued 200 yuan payment was so little and Dai wouldn't get an accurate fortune.

Dai became angry at the words and allegedly punched Xiong in the face, rupturing his left eyeball and leaving him blind in that eye.

According to law, Dai faces three to 10 years in jail if found guilty, said the prosecutors.