A court in Aktobe has found healer Bagdagul Lepesova guilty of defaming prominent Kazakh women Bayan Alaguzova and Dinara Satzhan. By decision of the specialized inter-district court for administrative offenses, she must pay a fine of 1.5 million tenge, reports infohub.kz.
The case was heard under the article "Defamation" of the Code of Administrative Offenses. As local police inspector Ulan Yeszhanov said, on May 15, a complaint was filed through the E-otinish portal by Bayan Alaguzova and Dinara Satzhan. The next day, their lawyers provided a video recording, and on May 25, a protocol was drawn up against Lepesova, who was in Astana at the time.
The case materials were sent for forensic examination, which confirmed the fact of defamation. On July 20, the case was transferred to court. At the hearing, Lepesova did not admit guilt, stating: "I have my own world. I do not understand the world of this person. I do not admit any of the charges against me. Is the video on my page? No. If I don't have a page, how can I answer to these people? What is here is not mine. I cannot answer for someone else."
Her lawyer argued that the videos could have been edited or created using artificial intelligence, and asked to declare the examination illegal, as well as to question the owners of the accounts that published the videos. However, Bayan Alaguzova, who participated in the hearing online, insisted on punishment: "We live in a legal state. You cannot insult and infringe on the honor and dignity of a citizen of Kazakhstan. I was insulted and humiliated. I do not deserve to listen to all this. I saw it on all portals. Because of this, I even deleted my TikTok account. As a person, it just suppresses your spirit. It was said that I am addicted to drugs, take money from the state, hire guys and spend money on my own needs. I was greatly insulted and slandered. I ask for a fair decision and to punish Lepesova. Any examination, even a simple person will prove that this is not AI. I don't need her apology, I will not forgive. I will not go for mediation. I want this to be a lesson for everyone. Now on the internet people are insulted and humiliated. And we live in a legal state. Through this court, others should see that no one is allowed to insult anyone on social media."
Judge Anar Aitzhanova read out the ruling: "Find Bagdagul Lepesova guilty under Part 2 of Article 73-3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. In accordance with Article 58 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, impose a final administrative fine of 1,557,000 tenge. The fine must be paid no later than 30 days."
In addition, a criminal case has been opened against Lepesova under the article "Insult", which is being considered in Astana. Earlier it was reported that TV presenter Dinara Satzhan and producer Bayan Alaguzova intend to sue a resident of Aktobe who calls herself a healer.