Unlicensed ‘Vendor’ Arrested in New York

A Buddhist nun, Baojing Li, was arrested last month for soliciting funds for her burned down temple without obtaining the requisite New York business license. Police officers found the nun handing out beads to donators and they charged her with selling jewelry without a vendors license.

DNA Info reports that prosecutors said, “Li had a satchel full of ‘more than 20 pieces’ of ‘costume jewelry’ she was selling for profit without the proper vendors license from the Department of Consumer Affairs.”

Protests by witnesses at the scene, affirming that all Li was doing was panhandling funds, were disregarded as police officers handcuffed the nun and bought her to the local precinct.

Li’s original charge could’ve hit her with a $3,000 fine and up to 3 months in prison, but complaints by the local Chinese community and outrage over what is perceived as a religious leader’s disgrace has caused the district attorney to offer to drop charges in exchange of Li doing one day of community work. The nun refused the plea deal.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 18.

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