Woman has no money to pay for broken bracelet

A woman surviving on a basic living allowance may face a fine of up to 147,500 yuan ($24,380) for breaking a jade bracelet in Zhenjiang, Zhejiang province.

Xu Fang, an alias, accidentally dropped a jade bracelet priced at 380,000 yuan on the ground of a store on March 26, 2013, causing a clear rift in the jade. The jewelry shop asked her to pay 310,000 yuan, offering a discount on the full price.

The 47-year-old woman said she lost her job in 2013, and lives on a 420 yuan basic living allowance every month, adding that she is suffering cervical cancer. Her husband also wants to divorce her, making it impossible for her to pay such an amount, according to a report in Modern Express on Tuesday.

The jewelry shop sued the woman in May. Experts valued the jade bracelet at about 147,500 yuan, still much more than the woman has.

The trial of second instance for the case was held on Monday but the woman did not show up, and the court postponed the release of its verdict and sentence.