China Scene: Central

Video of affair used to save marriage

A woman in Hubei province tried to counter her husband's application for divorce by producing video evidence that he had been having an affair.

The woman, Chen Juan, hired a private detective to gather evidence that would call into question her husband's credibility after he filed to end their marriage.

The husband, Li Lin, objected to the screening of the steamy evidence in court. However, a judge in Wuhan, the provincial capital, ruled that evidence collected by a private detective was permissible, so long as it was not used to blackmail or extort money.

(Chutian Metropolis News)

Man doesn't want repeat visit to shady hotel

Hu Jun checked in to the Xinyue Hotel in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, on June 4. The next morning he found his door ajar and a bag containing his 8,000 yuan ($1,151) laptop computer had been stolen.

After Hu filed a complaint with local police, the hotel promised to compensate him for his losses. However, Hu was not satisfied with what was offered: two weeks free hotel accommodation. He said he had no desire to return to the Xinyue Hotel.

(Chutian Metropolis News)

Desperate move to distract parents from mahjong

A 12-year-old girl from Xiangtan, a city in Hunan province, felt neglected by parents whom she thought spent more time at the mahjong table than with her.

Last week the girl, Li Qi, told police that her home had been robbed, and that she had been severely beaten by an intruder, while her parents were away gambling.

The story was a fib, as police soon discovered. The girl confessed to lying. However, she said, she was just looking for a way to force her parents to pay attention to her.

(Xaioxiang Morning Post)

(China Daily 06/11/2008 page6)