China Scene: Central

Jilted husband takes anger out on cab drivers

Zhang Qiang, a 25-year-old thief who robbed 13 taxicabs in a month, was recently detained in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province.

Zhang apparently developed a strong hatred of taxi drivers after his wife left him for one just after the Spring Festival holiday.

He decided to exact his revenge a month ago. Zhang stole more than 8,000 yuan ($1,100) from 13 different drivers between Feb 10 and March 11.

Zhang's victims included six female taxi drivers.

(Zhengzhou Evening News)

Zoo contractor sentenced to 10 years after panda caper

A zoo contractor surnamed Hu was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison after he colluded with animal trainers to steal three red pandas in Qianyang, Henan province.

Hu, 45, learned Qianyang Zoo had purchased four red pandas, so he cooked up a plan with two animal trainers, both surnamed Li, to steal three of them last July.

The three young pandas were valued at more than 75,000 yuan (more than $10,000).

Hu returned the pandas to the zoo after being caught.

The two Lis were sentenced to eight years in jail.

(Dongfang Jinbao News)

Serial wife gets two years for marriage scams

A 40-year-old woman surnamed Wang who tricked 20 men into marrying her was recently sentenced to two years in jail in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province.

Wang, a farmer, was detained at a wedding ceremony in September after former victims recognized her.

The mother of three was found to have fooled 20 men in five cities and counties in Hubei, Anhui and Henan provinces into marrying her. The racket brought in 28,900 yuan ($4,130) over the past three years. Wang was also found to have fabricated fake identity cards and divorce certificates.

The Xinzhou District People's Court also fined her 2,000 yuan.

(Changjiang Commercial News)

Husband cushions wife after being thrown from car

A man hugged his pregnant wife as they flew through the air after a collision in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, cushioning her from the fall.

The accident took place one night last weekend when a three-wheeled farm vehicle collided with the car in which Yang, Yang's husband Liu and a passenger were riding. All three of them were thrown from the vehicle.

Liu, the driver, clung to his wife, who is five months pregnant, protecting her from the hard ground.

The three wounded were sent to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Yang said she might have died without her husband.

(Dahe News)

A 61-year-old man surnamed Tu was recently invited to serve as a dancing coach for senior citizens after he had posted a video of himself of dancing on the Internet in Wuhan, Hubei province.

After watching Tu's hilarious performance of "Swan Lake", for which he dressed in a ballet skirt, officials from the Wuhan administration of industry and commerce asked him if he would teach the administration's more than 100 retirees how to dance.

Tu said he had come up with the comical ballet dance on his own and most of his family members supported him.

(www.hannet.com)

(China Daily 03/28/2008 page6)