In 2017, the world was shocked when media reported that the WePhone founder, Su Xiangmao (苏享茂), had committed suicide. Xiangmao allegedly left a suicide note claiming his ex-wife Zhai Xinxin (翟欣欣) was to blame. The note reportedly accused her of lying to him and blackmailing him after their marriage ended.
Xiangmao’s family took Xinxin to court a year later, requesting Xiangmao’s gifts to her, both assets and cash worth almost 10 million yuan (~RM6 million), be returned. Well, recently, the court ordered Xinxin to return the gifts and revoked the former agreement she had with Xiangmao.
Judgement for the case was reportedly pronounced at the Chaoyang District court in Beijing on 31st March. The court sentenced Xinxin to return a Tesla car worth 1,080,000 yuan (~RM690 thousand), a collection of Cartier rings and necklaces valued over 300,000 yuan (~RM190 thousand) and a total of 1,870,000 yuan (~RM1 million) which Xinxin had reportedly received from Su Xiangmao in several money transfers.
The former couple had only been married for a little over a month before divorcing in July 2017. Less than two month after that, in September, Xiangmao committed suicide. In the 110 days from the time the two met till their divorce, Xinxin had allegedly received a car, jewellery and over 3 million yuan (~RM1.9 million) in cash. As such, they concluded that Xinxin had purposely married Xiangmao for his money.
Xinxin reportedly argued she had received those items and money as “betrothal gifts”. However, the court dismissed the claim based on evidence showing Xinxin had told Xiangmao to buy her the gifts. One WeChat conversation between the two showed Xinxin demanding Xiangmao transfer 50 thousand yuan (~RM32 thousand) to her every day until she agreed to marry him.
The court also revoked the divorce settlement made between the two shortly before Su Xiangmao’s passing. Xiangmao had stated in his suicide note that he had signed the divorce agreement when he was mentally and emotionally exhausted from Xinxin’s constant harassment. “Each and every word in that agreement was orchestrated,” he had claimed.
According to the agreement, Su Xiangmao was to pay Xinxin 10 million yuan in cash and to buy her a flat in Sanya on an island in Hainan. Xiangmao ended up owing her 3.4 million yuan, after transferring everything else to her. Another line in the agreement stated that refusal or delay in paying the remaining amount would result in a penalty of 100,000 yuan per day.
Xiangmao later revealed in his note that Xinxin had pressured him into signing the agreement by threatening to report him for tax evasion and claims that his company had operated illegally. As the court found that Xinxin had coerced Xiangmao into signing the agreement, they ordered it revoked. The 6.6 million yuan is to be returned to Xiangmao’s family and the ownership of Xinxin’s two properties in Beijing and Sanya is to be transferred to them.
Netizens have been pleased with the results, claiming it is justice for Su Xiangmao. However, a few feel the “blackmail bride” got off rather lightly. “What about (the) blackmail and coercion?” one asked. Others also claimed the sentencing took too long.
Regardless, we hope Su Xiangmao will be able to rest easier after this. Our hearts also go out to his family who have been fighting long and hard to ensure he received the justice rightly due him.
Sources: China Press, South China Morning Post, What’s On Weibo
