Chinese Court Orders Woman to Return High Dowry in 'Flash Marriage' Scam
A recent case published by the Supreme People's Court of China has drawn widespread attention to the issue of "flash marriages" and the payment of high dowries. In this case, a woman named Sun was found to have been involved in multiple "flash marriages" within a short period, receiving high dowries each time, and the court ultimately ruled that she must return all the dowries she had received. Sun had married a man named Zhao in October 2020, just a month after they met, and received a dowry of 86,000 yuan. However, their marriage was short-lived, and they divorced in June 2021.
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28 February 2025
During their marriage, Sun had mostly lived with her parents and had not formed a stable life with Zhao. The court found that Sun had been involved in two other divorces in the past four years, and in each case, she had received a high dowry and had not formed a stable life with her husband. The court ruled that Sun's behavior was a clear case of using marriage as a means to obtain money, and therefore, she must return the entire dowry of 86,000 yuan to Zhao. This case has sparked heated discussions on social media, with many people expressing outrage at Sun's behavior and praising the court's decision.
The Supreme People's Court has emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable and that the court will crack down on those who use marriage as a means to obtain money. Similar cases have also been reported, including one where a man named Lin paid a marriage agency 170,000 yuan to find him a bride, but the marriage ended in divorce just a month later. The court ruled that the agency must return 150,000 yuan to Lin, as it had failed to provide a genuine marriage service.
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These cases highlight the need for stricter regulations on marriage agencies and the importance of protecting the rights of individuals who are seeking to get married. The court has emphasized that it will continue to crack down on those who use marriage as a means to obtain money and will work to protect the rights of individuals who are seeking to get married. The purpose of paying a dowry is not only to fulfill the legal requirement of registering a marriage but also, more importantly, to establish a long-term and stable marital relationship.
In this case, although Sun had registered her marriage with Zhao, the marriage lasted for a relatively short period, and Sun primarily resided at her parents' home, failing to establish a long-term and stable marital relationship with Zhao. Furthermore, considering the frequent quarrels between the couple over Sun's demands for money and her involvement in two previous divorce disputes, the court determined that she had indeed used marriage as a means to extort money.
The case has sparked a fierce debate in society, with many people condemning Sun's actions as a form of deception. The court's decision to order her to return the hefty bride price has been widely seen as a fair and reasonable verdict. Netizens have been vocal in their criticism of Sun's behavior, with many labeling it as a form of "marriage fraud." Some have expressed outrage that she was able to exploit multiple men in such a way, and argued that the court's punishment did not go far enough.
Others have called for a more nuanced approach, arguing that the court's decision highlights the need for clearer laws and regulations around marriage and divorce. They argue that the current system is too loose, allowing unscrupulous individuals to exploit loopholes and engage in unethical behavior. There have also been concerns raised about the impact of such cases on the institution of marriage as a whole. Some have argued that Sun's actions undermine the trust and commitment that underpin a healthy marriage, and that stronger laws are needed to protect the rights of all parties involved.
In response to the case, some lawmakers have begun to discuss the need for new legislation to tackle the issue of marriage fraud. They argue that the current laws are insufficient to deal with the complexities of modern relationships, and that a more comprehensive approach is needed to prevent similar cases arising in the future. Overall, the case has sparked a wide-ranging debate about the nature of marriage, the role of the law in regulating relationships, and the need for greater protections against exploitation and abuse. As the conversation continues, it is likely that we will see a renewed focus on strengthening the laws and social norms that govern marriage and relationships in China.
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